First Great Western

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will take steps in collaboration with First Great Western to relieve congestion through  (a) bringing into service as soon as possible new trains ordered for 2011 and  (b) other measures.

Chris Mole: On 23 July the Government announced a major £1 billion programme of rail electrification on the Great Western Main Line. This radically affects the requirements for rolling stock over the next decade.
	Long-distance services will now be operated by a new fleet of predominantly electric-powered Super Express Trains, offering faster journeys as well as improved capacity and passenger comfort. Electric trains will also be provided for commuter services. Following the procurement of new Thameslink rolling stock, Great Western electrification will allow four-carriage electric trains currently operating Thameslink services to replace three-carriage diesel trains currently operating on the Great Western Main Line. In addition, once completed, Crossrail will provide significantly increased capacity on Great Western services into London.
	In view of Great Western electrification, the procurement by the Government of new diesel trains, some of which would have entered service on the Great Western Main Line has been superseded. The Government will publish a new Rolling Stock Plan in the autumn, taking account of the changed circumstances.

Engaging Communities in Criminal Justice

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Solicitor-General what plans the Government has for developing the role of the community prosecutor referred to in Engaging Communities in Criminal Justice.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is testing the Community Prosecutor approach over a 12-month period from June 2009 in 49 pathfinder locations. The approach will be evaluated during the testing period, with plans for national roll-out to be developed thereafter.
	The development of a Community Prosecutor approach is a major new initiative for the CPS, one which brings together work which is already happening in many CPS areas, together with new ideas about how modern prosecutors should engage with communities. The initiative will allow the CPS to work together with the police and our other partners to make communities safer and raise public confidence in the services we provide.
	The pathfinder locations are testing three strands to the Community Prosecutor approach, which are:
	enabling prosecutors to make more 'community-aware casework decisions;
	greater CPS involvement in 'problem-solving' of local crime and disorder priorities; and
	increased CPS visibility to communities and other agencies responding to local crime and disorder concerns.
	The Community Prosecutor approach is one of the proposals contained in the 'Engaging Communities in Criminal Justice' Green Paper launched on 29 April 2009.

Arts Council of England: West Yorkshire

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England has spent per capita on  (a) capital projects and  (b) revenue funding in (i) Leeds and (ii) West Yorkshire in each year since 2001.

Si�n Simon: Arts Council England have supplied the figures in the table. The figures represent their total funding, awarded in £000, either on a revenue or capital basis to organisations or individuals based (by post code) in Leeds and West Yorkshire.
	
		
			  LA/capital/revenue  2001- 0 2  2002- 0 3  2003- 0 4  2004- 0 5  2005- 0 6  2006- 0 7  2007- 0 8  2008- 0 9 
			  Leeds 
			 Lottery capital 625 5,589 - 19,600 - - - - 
			 Lottery revenue 1,585 941 917 1,255 1,782 1,984 993 1,529 
			 Grant in aid revenue 10,060 11,163 11,901 13,511 14,115 15,220 15,840 16,290 
			 Total 12,270 17,694 12,818 34,366 15,897 17,204 16,833 17,819 
			  West Yorkshire 
			 Lottery capital 3,162 5,589 6,487 19,600 - - - - 
			 Lottery revenue 3,439 2,100 2,867 7,181 3,797 4,654 2,157 2,825 
			 Grant in aid revenue 11,864 13,181 14,181 16,207 17,059 18,298 19,035 20,198 
			 Total 18,465 20,870 23,535 42,988 20,857 22,951 21,192 23,023

Video Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the economic growth rate in the UK video games industry has been in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the likely rate of growth in 2009-10.

Si�n Simon: Accurate data on the video and computer games sector is not readily available to the Department, particularly as the sector has not had its own separate Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. A new SIC code for computer games has now been agreed though this will not deliver data until 2010 at the earliest.
	We do not project future trends of the markets but, according to industry figures, since 2004 the UK Video Games industry has experienced modest growth of around 4 per cent. per annum and this is projected to continue to 2011.
	 Source:
	Oxford Economics 2008

Video Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the contribution of the video games industry to the UK's gross domestic product in each of the last five years; and what the estimated contribution is for 2009-10.

Si�n Simon: Accurate data on the video and computer games sector is not readily available to the Department, particularly as the sector has not had its own separate Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. A new SIC code for computer games has now been agreed though it will not deliver data until 2010 at the earliest.

Armed Forces

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which EU military operations UK military personnel are serving; and how many are serving in each operation.

Bill Rammell: The UK contributes military personnel to two EU operations: protection of World Food Programme and vulnerable shipping off the Horn of Africa (Operation Atalanta) and peace-keeping in Bosnia (Operation Althea). At present the UK contributes 51 military personnel to Operation Atalanta and 10 military personnel to Operation Althea.

Domestic Waste: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the figures for each London local authority for  (a) household waste per head,  (b) percentage of all household waste recycled,  (c) total non-household waste and  (d) percentage of all non-household waste recycled were for (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09.

Dan Norris: The following table shows the data requested for 2006-07 and 2007-08. Local authority level data for all of 2008-09 will be published on DEFRA's website on 5 November 2009.
	As requested, reuse is not included in any of the recycling data so will therefore not match some published data which includes reuse.
	
		
			   Collected household waste per person (kg)  Household recycling and composting rate  Total non-household waste  Estimated non-household recycling and composting rate 
			  Authority  2006-07  2007-08  2006-07  2007-08  2006-07  2007-08  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Bexley LB 507.50 483.60 40.00 41.64 23,366.08 25,014.71 17.30 17.38 
			 Tower Hamlets LB 396.40 406.91 11.75 13.04 22,485.24 26,659.36 1.23 3.41 
			 City of London 570.20 700.09 28.19 33.39 39,091.19 34,950.09 2.16 4.23 
			 Westminster City Council 334.70 357.32 20.38 22.72 110,322.00 110,661.00 2.90 2.39 
			 Redbridge LB 417.10 408.02 18.60 22.38 14,708.58 16,944.95 12.50 11.79 
			 Newham LB 448.60 474.64 13.58 14.40 30,707.55 28,287.94 8.44 12.43 
			 Havering LB 517.80 489.52 20.43 23.98 17,158.24 17,912.69 0.28 17.61 
			 Barking and Dagenham LB 524.80 526.81 21.08 20.41 15,824.98 15,931.36 20.98 24.94 
			 Waltham Forest LB 445.00 454.59 27.51 29.74 26,439.42 24,985.04 14.40 12.02 
			 Islington LB 433.30 404.21 23.50 26.33 38,316.60 38,018.33 4.61 4.16 
			 Haringey LB 341.50 366.08 24.72 25.68 43,837.38 42,230.82 10.83 10.63 
			 Hackney LB 394.60 379.78 19.57 22.38 49,088.72 46,532.65 2.58 2.57 
			 Enfield LB 409.10 422.38 29.64 28.19 25,417.98 24,729.78 7.04 11.21 
			 Camden LB 335.00 317.77 28.05 27.12 60,224.80 60,027.82 3.73 5.03 
			 Barnet LB 431.60 438.68 29.47 30.68 33,400.64 32,656.04 3.24 4.54 
			 Southwark LB 427.00 412.50 18.46 20.02 29,123.18 29,129.90 8.63 12.60 
			 Lewisham LB 469.90 451.37 15.75 21.99 25,158.46 25,457.81 2.42 2.49 
			 Greenwich LB 458.10 463.21 23.61 30.52 11,828.90 9,607.16 12.59 7.08 
			 Sutton LB 464.80 442.32 30.26 32.48 12,615.13 12,037.40 3.17 1.85 
			 Merton LB 386.60 404.95 25.05 27.08 20,980.13 12,183.28 4.79 8.84 
			 Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames 444.30 419.83 23.90 25.62 7,750.70 2,092.77 0.00 0.00 
			 Croydon LB 406.80 401.79 20.11 22.71 50,439.00 48,180.37 20.70 26.79 
			 Bromley LB 498.40 481.07 31.85 34.46 18,282.38 21,373.48 0.00 0.00 
			 Richmond upon Thames LB 431.90 435.12 31.71 36.14 21,622.62 22,074.31 22.05 33.52 
			 Hounslow LB 499.50 462.08 19.62 21.75 28,545.42 11,797.79 2.75 15.47 
			 Hillingdon LB 491.90 481.14 30.64 33.76 30,904.30 30,266.49 1.01 1.45 
			 Harrow LB 477.00 455.48 27.70 39.55 18,093.00 16,517.00 0.00 4.05 
			 Ealing LB 404.10 386.91 24.92 28.94 22,215.17 19,873.93 0.00 0.00 
			 Brent LB 411.20 401.19 21.52 20.98 19,852.03 18,689.83 7.67 9.04 
			 Wandsworth LB 366.00 386.20 22.87 24.66 0.00 0.00 n/a n/a 
			 Lambeth LB 351.60 355.80 23.10 25.12 0.00 0.00 n/a n/a 
			 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 310.10 349.30 24.28 27.93 0.00 0.00 n/a n/a 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham LB 339.70 343.74 23.63 26.89 0.00 0.00 n/a n/a 
			  Source: WasteDataFlow.

Landfill

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of municipal waste went to landfill in each local authority area in 2007-08.

Dan Norris: The following table shows the proportion of municipal waste sent to landfill. The data can also be found on the DEFRA website.
	This data are only available for unitary authorities and waste disposal authorities. Waste collection authorities' waste is disposed of by their waste disposal authority.
	
		
			  Municipal waste sent to landfill in England in 2007-08 
			  Authority  Landfill (tonnes)  Total municipal waste (tonnes)  Proportion of waste sent to landfill (percentage) 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council 14,688 105,227 13.96 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council 9,503 76,915 12.35 
			 Middlesbrough Borough Council 15,393 88,696 17.35 
			 Hartlepool Borough Council 6,351 54,454 11.66 
			 Darlington Borough Council 43,849 67,141 65.31 
			 Durham County Council 206,135 291,282 70.77 
			 Northumberland County Council 110,593 179,599 61.58 
			 Sunderland city Council 113,090 155,668 72.65 
			 South Tyneside MBC 64,250 88,538 72.57 
			 North Tyneside Council 69,537 122,811 56.62 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council MBC 122,946 171,135 71.84 
			 Gateshead MBC 82,894 110,465 75.04 
			 Warrington Borough Council 71,333 111,100 64.21 
			 Halton Borough Council 53,863 77,663 69.35 
			 Cheshire County Council 252,024 427,534 58.95 
			 Cumbria County Council 198,481 308,042 64.43 
			 Wigan MBC 120,953 197,605 61.21 
			 Greater Manchester WDA (MBC) 788,827 1,288,461 61.22 
			 Blackpool Borough Council 53,985 80,672 66.92 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council 46,851 72,091 64.99 
			 Lancashire County Council 367,957 659,707 55.78 
			 Merseyside WDA (MBC) 566,722 829,532 68.32 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire Council 133,887 207,932 64.39 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull City Council 106,949 145,689 73.41 
			 North East Lincolnshire Council 19,469 94,845 20.53 
			 North Lincolnshire Council 56,648 101,726 55.69 
			 York City Council 67,235 118,602 56.69 
			 North Yorkshire County Council 247,384 385,572 64.16 
			 Sheffield city Council 40,032 244,415 16.38 
			 Rotherham MBC 81,984 129,948 63.09 
			 Doncaster MBC 114,478 178,778 64.03 
			 Barnsley MBC 79,435 117,131 67.82 
			 Leeds City Council MBC 249,709 355,976 70.15 
			 Kirklees MBC 84,665 233,737 36.22 
			 Wakefield City MDC 146,992 189,736 77.47 
			 Bradford City MDC (MBC) 214,130 268,411 79.78 
			 Calderdale MBC 65,880 92,527 71.20 
			 Derby City Council 76,995 131,419 58.59 
			 Derbyshire County Council 253,638 400,355 63.35 
			 Rutland County Council 13,750 20,522 67.00 
			 Leicester city Council 76,630 134,797 56.85 
			 Leicestershire County Council 209,328 375,246 55.78 
			 Lincolnshire County Council 176,743 352,123 50.19 
			 Northamptonshire County Council 233,297 387,277 60.24 
			 Nottingham City Council 32,046 172,179 18.61 
			 Nottinghamshire County Council 206,308 439,448 46.95 
			 Herefordshire Council 64,340 96,039 66.99 
			 Worcestershire County Council 155,859 299,863 51.98 
			 Telford and Wrekin Council 62,630 93,553 66.95 
			 Shropshire County Council 97,019 174,694 55.54 
			 Stoke-on-Trent City Council 26,563 130,534 20.35 
			 Staffordshire County Council 172,792 469,775 36.78 
			 Warwickshire County Council 181,101 303,773 59.62 
			 Wolverhampton MBC 31,522 142,417 22.13 
			 Walsall MBC 61,841 138,382 44.69 
			 Solihull MBC 16,253 100,475 16.18 
			 Sandwell MBC 93,424 142,504 65.56 
			 Dudley MBC 23,239 146,729 15.84 
			 Coventry City Council 18,760 171,749 10.92 
			 Birmingham City Council 108,768 573,548 18.96 
			 Luton Borough Council 70,505 107,031 65.87 
			 Bedfordshire County Council 131,368 212,480 61.83 
			 Peterborough City Council 56,999 102,043 55.86 
			 Cambridgeshire County Council 170,872 333,138 51.29 
			 Thurrock Council 53,116 76,621 69.32 
			 Southend-on-Sea Borough Council 53,655 84,234 63.70 
			 Essex County Council 437,595 732,578 59.73 
			 Hertfordshire County Council 318,608 567,753 56.12 
			 Norfolk County Council 242,697 409,964 59.20 
			 Suffolk County Council 233,886 408,268 57.29 
			 Bexley LB 59,629 132,182 45.11 
			 Tower Hamlets LB 100,518 113,378 88.66 
			 City of London 36,179 40,421 89.51 
			 Westminster City Council 27,414 193,525 14.17 
			 East London Waste Authority 276,781 504,483 54.86 
			 North London Waste Authority 292,428 944,588 30.96 
			 Southwark LB 74,605 140,351 53.16 
			 Lewisham LB 14,301 141,287 10.12 
			 Greenwich LB 2,993 112,650 2.66 
			 Sutton LB 64,377 91,965 70.00 
			 Merton LB 69,467 92,242 75.31 
			 Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames 49,601 67,560 73.42 
			 Croydon LB 139,697 183,608 76.08 
			 Bromley LB 71,735 165,262 43.41 
			 West London Waste Authority 567,666 772,767 73.46 
			 Western Riverside Waste Authority 361,214 457,397 78.97 
			 Wokingham Council 46,495 77,633 59.89 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council 45,165 69,092 65.37 
			 Slough Borough Council 48,549 62,153 78.11 
			 Reading Borough Council 49,859 78,972 63.14 
			 West Berkshire District Council 64,337 83,997 76.59 
			 Bracknell Forest Borough Council 34,751 59,244 58.66 
			 Milton Keynes Council 88,803 135,202 65.68 
			 Buckinghamshire County Council 161,486 265,739 60.77 
			 Brighton and Hove Council 66,434 112,373 59.12 
			 East Sussex County Council 152,633 270,318 56.46 
			 Southampton City Council 26,802 120,224 22.29 
			 Portsmouth City Council 11,630 85,701 13.57 
			 Hampshire County Council 85,549 696,553 12.28 
			 Isle of Wight Council 52,703 86,004 61.28 
			 Medway Borough Council 90,454 138,360 65.38 
			 Kent County Council 427,584 803,494 53.22 
			 Oxfordshire County Council 204,418 331,194 61.72 
			 Surrey County Council 397,601 622,382 63.88 
			 West Sussex County Council 279,823 464,341 60.26 
			 Council of the Isles of Scilly 0 3,135 0.00 
			 Bath and North East Somerset Council 55,512 97,109 57.16 
			 Bristol City Council 115,589 185,502 62.31 
			 Cornwall County Council 210,386 324,480 64.84 
			 Torbay Council 56,042 78,720 71.19 
			 Plymouth City Council 94,442 148,663 63.53 
			 Devon County Council 218,088 438,616 49.72 
			 Poole Borough Council 62,326 94,929 65.66 
			 Bournemouth Borough Council 55,512 93,142 59.60 
			 Dorset County Council 120,048 228,159 52.62 
			 Gloucestershire County Council 201,703 323,076 62.43 
			 North Somerset Council 70,437 111,946 62.92 
			 Somerset County Council 159,805 297,991 53.63 
			 South Gloucestershire Council 78,958 146,796 53.79 
			 Swindon Borough Council 60,692 97,543 62.22 
			 Wiltshire County Council 158,966 259,567 61.24

Anguilla: Energy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding the Government has contributed to the establishment of the Anguilla Renewable Energy Office.

Chris Bryant: The Anguilla Renewable Energy Office is being established by the Anguilla National Trust in conjunction with the government of Anguilla, as part of a project entitled Implementation of the Anguilla Energy Policy 2008-20. Phase One: Building a Broad Community Movement. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development funded Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) has committed £100,000 over two years in support of the overall project. OTEP has to date contributed £3,805 to the establishment of the Anguilla Renewable Energy Office.

Colombia: Land Mines

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to the Colombian government on its use of landmines to protect military installations.

Chris Bryant: holding answer 16 October 2009
	We have seen no evidence to suggest that the Colombian armed forces are using landmines prohibited by the Ottawa Convention. We have therefore made no representations to the Colombian government on the use of landmines around military installations.

Colombia: Land Mines

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to the government of Colombia in respect of that government's use of landmines to protect military installations.

Chris Bryant: We have seen no evidence to suggest that the Colombian armed forces are using land mines prohibited by the Ottawa Convention. We have therefore made no representations to the Colombian Government on the use of land mines around military installations.

Cyprus: Politics and Government

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has had with the government of  (a) the Republic of Cyprus,  (b) Greece and  (c) Turkey on the continuing role of the Guarantor Powers in the context of Cyprus's membership of the EU.

Chris Bryant: The Government regularly discusses with Cyprus, Greece and Turkey, the issue of security in the context of current negotiations to reunite the island.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote full implementation by the governments of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo of their commitments to non-military policies to disarm, demobilise and repatriate members of the FDLR, as agreed in the 2007 Nairobi Communiqué; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 21 October 2009
	A combination of military and non-military pressure on the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR), and political co-operation between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, remains the most likely way of tackling the FDLR.
	Both countries recently announced their ambassadors, and Congolese President Kabila and Rwandan President Kagame held their first ever bilateral summit in August. We continue to encourage DRC and Rwanda to work on other key areas, such as border security, trade and the return of refugees.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that, in the course of Operation Kimia 2, MONUC is not directly or indirectly supporting FARDC members who have been accused of war crimes; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 21 October 2009
	The UK has stressed on various occasions to the UN that the UN Mission in the Democratic of Congo (DRC) (MONUC) should not provide such support, including to operations which involve Bosco Ntadanga, an International Criminal Court indictee. MONUC has assured the international community that they take every effort to avoid doing so.
	The UK continues to push for implementation of this policy. DRC President Kabila recently announced a policy of Zero Tolerance for abuses, including those committed by the security forces. We continue to urge the DRC government to fully implement this policy.

Departmental Publicity

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent on its  (a) Know Before You Go campaign,  (b) Another Side to Paradise campaign,  (c) Don't miss out campaign and  (d) other campaigns aimed at Britons travelling abroad co-ordinated by his Department in each year since 2001;
	(2)  whether any  (a) internal or  (b) external studies have been commissioned into the effectiveness of (i) his Department's Know Before You Go campaign and (ii) any subsidiary campaigns since 2001.

Chris Bryant: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 14 September 2009,  Official Report, column 2172W.
	The cost of the Another Side to Paradise campaign was £15,000 and the cost of the Don't miss out campaign was approximately £12,000. The cost of all other campaigns that are aimed at Britons travelling abroad could be obtained from the Department and its 250 overseas posts only at disproportionate cost.

Diplomatic Service: Databases

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2009,  Official Report, column 334W, on the Locate system, how many people have registered their details online in each year since the service's inception.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas online registration and crisis database, LOCATE, does not break down registrations on a yearly basis. However, it does record the total number of active registrations at any one time; that is to say the number of registered British nationals who are currently travelling, living or working overseas. As of 22 October 2009, this number stands at 56,661 people.

Falkland Islands: Oil

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government has to license areas for oil exploration around the Falkland Islands.

Chris Bryant: holding answer 19 October 2009
	Exploration for oil and gas continues around the Falkland Islands and the Government continue to support this. In April 2008, the Government approved the Falkland Islands government's request to resume open door licensing for offshore oil exploration and production in five blocks. Since then a number of companies have farmed-in with existing licence holders in preparation for drilling exploration wells. Exploratory drilling in the area to the north of the Islands could begin as early as February 2010.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Meetings

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Ministers in his Department have had meetings with the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands since July 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: My hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Meg Munn, met the Governor prior to his departure for the Turks and Caicos Islands in July 2008 and my hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Gillian Merron, met him at the Overseas Territories Consultative Council in October 2008. I have not yet had the opportunity to meet him, but have spoken to him on the telephone.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Politics and Government

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long he expects the interim government in the Turks and Caicos Islands to be in place.

Chris Bryant: On 14 August 2009 the Governor brought into force an Order in Council suspending ministerial government and the House of Assembly in Turks and Caicos Island for a period of two years. It remains our intention that elections should be held by July 2011.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) accrued revenue in the last three months from callers to HMRC 08 telephone numbers being kept on line while waiting to be answered.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) centrally managed network of contact centres has received no revenue in respect of its use of 08 telephone numbers. HMRC's contact centre policy is to provide as quick and efficient service as possible.

Taxation: Holiday Accommodation

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the financial effect which the revised furnished holiday letting rules will have on persons operating holiday lets in  (a) the UK and  (b) Wales.

Stephen Timms: An impact assessment for the changes to the Furnished Holiday Lettings rules will be published at the 2009 pre-Budget report, alongside draft legislation.

Taxation: Scotland

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs has responsibilities for the levy aspects of business improvement districts in Scotland.

Stephen Timms: No.
	These are the responsibility of the relevant local authority in conjunction with participating businesses in the Business Improvement District area.

VAT

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what consultation HM Revenue and Customs undertook with businesses prior to the decision to phase out paper-based value added tax returns;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of posts in HM Revenue and Customs which will no longer be required as a result of the decision to phase out paper-based value added tax returns;
	(3)  whether HM Revenue and Customs assessed effects on costs of small businesses of the phasing out of paper-based value added tax returns.

Stephen Timms: In addition to consultations carried out as part of Lord Carter's Review of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Online Services, published at Budget 2006, HMRC conducted a 12 week consultation-concluding on 3 July 2009-on the draft Regulations to implement the phasing out of paper-based VAT returns.
	HMRC's estimate of the benefits from phasing out paper VAT returns is subject to periodic updating. The staff saving is currently estimated at 26 full-time equivalent staff posts, but this does not include certain areas where the business change effect is still being evaluated.
	Very small businesses that are already registered for VAT will not be affected by the proposal to phase out paper VAT returns from 1 April 2010, but any business registering on or after 1 April 2010 will not have the option of making paper based VAT returns. The Impact Assessment undertaken does not differentiate between different sized businesses.
	Research has shown that internet use is highest among new businesses and projections indicate that by 2010 internet usage among new businesses will be almost universal.

Climate Change

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment the Government has made of the effects on climate change of  (a) black carbon and  (b) improvements in air quality.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 12 October 2009
	 Research reported in the IPCC's fourth assessment report suggest a small, but significant, total warming effect since 1750 from Black Carbon emitted into the atmosphere by fossil fuel (the main source), biofuel and biomass burning. This effect is estimated to be the equivalent of about one seventh of the total climate warming effect from long lived greenhouse gases. There is also an additional but smaller warming effect due to the deposition of Black Carbon on surface snow and ice. Recent work by the Met Office Hadley Centre, funded by DECC, suggests Black Carbon emissions have potentially the second largest warming influence on climate, after greenhouse gases.
	The Air Quality and Climate Change: A UK Perspective, 2007 report by the Air Quality Expert Group considered the effects of air pollutants on air quality and climate change. Improvements in air quality will have a complex influence on climate change, as some pollutants have a direct or indirect warming effect while aerosol emissions other than Black Carbon have a cooling effect.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 16 June 2009, on climate change.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 15 October 2009
	I replied to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on 23 October and apologise for the unacceptable delay.

Power Failures: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with  (a) EDF Energy and  (b) Ofgem on the power cuts across Bexley and North West Kent in July 2009.

David Kidney: Officials from the Department were in regular contact with EDF Energy during the incident to track progress with supply restoration. Following the incident discussions are ongoing to assess compliance with statutory duties and to explore options to prevent a reoccurrence.
	Ofgem have informed officials about the impact on regulatory performance targets and the handling of compensation claims for the incident.

Coroners: Armed forces

Adam Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for each member of the armed forces killed in action overseas in respect of whom the inquest has not started, when  (a) the body was repatriated and  (b) the inquest is expected to begin.  [Official Report, 23 November 2009, Vol. 501, c. 6MC.]

Bridget Prentice: The following table shows the dates on which service personnel fatalities were repatriated, and the current position regarding the resumption of inquests which have been opened and adjourned pending Service Inquiries or other investigations. On 27 October my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces (Bill Rammell) and I will make the latest in the series of quarterly statements to the House about the inquests of service personnel and others who have died overseas.
	
		
			  Repatriation dates and inquest resumption dates where known for service personnel who (i) died on active service overseas or (ii) died in England of wounds sustained on active service overseas; and whose inquest resumption is pending. Inquests touching all these service personnel have been opened. 
			  Name of the deceased  Date of death  Date of repatriation  Inquest resumption date where this has been set 
			 Corporal Mike Gilyeat 30 May 2007 8.June 2007 27 October 2009 
			 Private Aaron McClure 23 August 2007 31 August 2007 (tbc). 12 September 2009 
			 Private Robert Foster 23 August 2007 31 August 2007 (tbc). 12 September 2009 
			 Private John Thrumble 23 August 2007 31 August 2007 (tbc). 12 September 
			 Aircraftsman Christopher Bridge 30 August 2007 7 September.2007 7-8 December 2009 
			 Lance Corporal Sarah Holmes 14 October 2007 L/Cpl Holmes died in England 3 November 2009 
			 Sergeant John Battersby 20 November 2007 26 November 2007 Inquest resumed 17 August 2009, adjourned  21 August 2009 to 7 September 12.09 
			 Trooper Lee Fitzsimmons 20 November 2007 26 November 2007 Inquest resumed 17 August 2009, adjourned 21 August 2009 to 7 September 2009 
			 Sergeant Lee Johnson 8 December 2007 17 December 2007 - 
			 Guardsman Stephen Ferguson 9 December 2007 Gdsmn Ferguson died in England - 
			 Senior Aircraftsman Graham Livingstone 13 April 20 08 18 April 20 08 10-11 November 2009 
			 Senior Aircraftsman Gary Thompson 13April 20 08 18 April 20 08 10-11 November 2009 
			 Trooper James Thompson 19 May 2008 26 May 2008 5 November 2009 
			 Corporal Sarah Bryant 17 June 2008 23 June 2008 - 
			 Corporal Sean Reeve 17 June 2008 23 June 2008 - 
			 Lance Corporal Richard Larkin 17 June 2008 23 June 2008 - 
			 Trooper Paul Stout 17 June 2008 23 June 2008 - 
			 Warrant Officer 2 Michael Williams 24 June 2008 30 June 2008 - 
			 Lance Corporal James Johnson 28 June 2008 7 July 2008 - 
			 Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe 24 July 2008 28 July 2008 12 November 2009 
			 Signaller Wayne Bland 11 August 2008 18 August 2008 - 
			 Ranger Justin James Cupples 4 September.2008 12 September.2008 18 November 2009 
			 Lance Corporal Nicky Mason 13 September.2008 19 September.2008 18 December 2009 
			 Lance Corporal David Wilson 4 December 2008 11 December 2008 - 
			 Corporal Lee Churcher 11 December 2008 17 December 2008 - 
			 Marine Damian Davies 12 December 2008 18 December 2008 - 
			 Sergeant John Manuel 12 December 2008 18 December 2008 - 
			 Corporal Marc Birch 12 December 2008 18 December 2008 - 
			 Lance Corporal Steven Jamie Fellows 12 December 2008 18 December 2008 - 
			 Lieutenant Aaron Lewis 15 December 2008 18 December 2008 - 
			 Rifleman Stuart Nash 17 December 2008 22 December 2008 - 
			 Corporal Robert Deering 21 December 2008 30 December 2008 - 
			 Serjeant Chris Reed 1 January 2009 7 January 2009 - 
			 Marine Travis Mackin 11 January 2009 20 January 2009 - 
			 Captain Tom Sawyer 14 January 2009 20 January 2009 - 
			 Corporal Danny Winter 14 January 2009 20 January 2009 - 
			 Acting Corporal Richard Robinson 17 January 2009 24 January 2009 - 
			 Corporal Daniel Nield 30 January 2009 3 February.09 - 
			 Private Ryan Wrathall 12 February 2009 19 February 2009 - 
			 Marine Darren Smith 14 February 2009 24 February - 
			 Lance Corporal Stephen Kingscott 16 February 24 February 23 October 2009 
			 Marine Michael Laski 25. February Mne Laski died in England - 
			 Lance Corporal Christopher Harkett 14 March 2009 21 March 2009 - 
			 Corporal Dean John 15 March 2009 21 March 2009 - 
			 Corporal Graeme Stiff 15 March 2009 21 March 2009 - 
			 Lance Sergeant Tobie Fasfous 28 April 20 09 5 May 2009 - 
			 Corporal Sean Binnie 7 May 2009 13 May 2009 - 
			 Rifleman Adrian Sheldon 7 May 2009 13 May 2009 - 
			 Sergeant Ben Ross 7 May 2009 13 May 2009 27 November 2009 
			 Corporal Kumar Pun 7 May 2009 13 May 2009 27 November 2009 
			 Lieutenant Mark Evison 12 May 2009 Lt Evison died in England - 
			 Marine Jason Mackie 14 May 2009 22 May 2009 - 
			 Fusilier Petero Suesue 22 May 2009 29 May 2009 2 December 2009 
			 Sapper Jordan Rossi 23 May 2009 29 May 2009 - 
			 Lance Corporal Robert Richards 27 May 2009 L/Cpl Richards died in England - 
			 Lance Corporal Kieron Hill 28 May 2009 1 June 2009 - 
			 Lance Corporal Nigel Moffett 30 May 2009 5 June 2009 - 
			 Corporal Steven Bolger 30 May 2009 5 June 2009 - 
			 Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher 2 June 2009 5 June 2009 - 
			 Private Robert McLaren 11 June 2009 16 June 2009 - 
			 Lieutenant Paul Mervis 12 June 2009 16 June 2009 - 
			 Major Sean Birchall 19 June 2009 26 June 2009 - 
			 Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thomeloe 1 July 2009 6 July 2009 - 
			 Trooper Joshua Hammond 1 July 2009 6 July 2009 - 
			 Lance Corporal David Dennis 4 July 2009 10 July 2009 - 
			 Trooper Robert Laws 4 July 2009 10 July 2009 - 
			 Lance Corporal Dane Elson 5 July 2009 10 July 2009 - 
			 Captain Ben Babington-Browne 6 July 2009 10 July 2009 - 
			 Trooper Christopher Whiteside 7 July 2009 10 July 2009 - 
			 Rifleman Daniel Hume 9 July 2009 14 July 2009 - 
			 Private John Brackpool 9 July 2009 14 July 2009 - 
			 Corporal Lee Scott 10 July 2009 14 July 2009 - 
			 Corporal Jonathan Home 10 July 2009 14 July 2009 - 
			 Rifleman William Aldridge 10 July 2009 14 July 2009 - 
			 Rifleman James Backhouse 10 July 2009 14 July 2009 - 
			 Rifleman Joseph Murphy 10 July 2009 14 July 2009 - 
			 Rifleman Daniel Simpson 10 July 2009 14 July 2009 - 
			 Rifleman Aminiasi Toge 16 July 2009 28 July 2009 - 
			 Corporal Joseph Etchells 19 July 2009 28 July 2009 - 
			 Captain Daniel Shepherd 20 July 2009 28 July 2009 - 
			 Guardsman Christopher King 22 July 2009 28 July 2009 - 
			 Bombardier Craig Hopson 25 July 2009 30 July 2009 - 
			 Trooper Philip Lawrence 27 July 2009 30 July 2009 - 
			 Warrant Officer 2 Sean Upton 27 July 2009 30 July 2009 - 
			 Craftsman Anthony Lombardi 4 August 2009 7 August 2009 - 
			 Corporal Kevin Mulligan 6 August 2009 13 August 2009 - 
			 Lance Corporal Dale Hopkins 6 August 2009 13 August 2009 - 
			 Private Kyle Adams 6 August 2009 13 August 2009 - 
			 Private Jason Williams 8 August 2009 13 August 2009 - 
			 Captain Mark Hale 13 August 2009 18 August 2009 - 
			 Rifleman Daniel Wild 13 August 2009 18 August 2009 - 
			 Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton 13 August 2009 18 August 2009 - 
			 Sergeant Simon Valentine 15 August 2009 21 August 2009 - 
			 Private Richard Hunt 15 August 2009 Pte Hunt died in England - 
			 Lance Corporal James Fullarton 16 August 2009 21 August 2009 - 
			 Fusilier Simon Annis 16 August 2009 21 August 2009 - 
			 Fusilier Louis Carter 16 August 2009 21 August 2009 - 
			 Serjeant Paul McAleese 20 August 2009 27 August 2009 - 
			 Private Johnathon Young 20 August 2009 27 August 2009 - 
			 Fusilier Shaun Bush 25 August 2009 Fus Bush died in England - 
			 Sergeant Lee Houltram 29 August 2009 4 September 2009 - 
			 Sergeant Stuart Millar 31 August 2009 4 September 2009 - 
			 Private Kevin Elliott 31 August 2009 4 September 2009 - 
			 Lance Corporal Richard Brandon 2 September 2009 10 September 2009 - 
			 Private Gavin Elliott 3 September 2009 10 September 2009 - 
			 Trooper Brett Hall 16 September 2009 Tpr Hall died in England - 
			 Corporal John Harrison 9 September 2009 17 September 2009 - 
			 Kingsman Jason Dunn-Bridgeman 13 September 2009 17 September 2009 - 
			 Acting Serjeant Stuart McGrath 16 September 2009 24 September 2009 - 
			 Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett MC 21 September 2009 29 September 2009 - 
			 Private James Prosser 27 September 2009 1 October 2009 - 
			 Acting Corporal Marcin Wojtak 1 October 2009 9 October 2009 - 
			 Guardsman Jamie Janes 5 October 2009 9 October 2009 - 
			 Lance Corporal James Hill 8 October 2009 15 October 2009 -

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 991W, on departmental electronic equipment, how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have spent on (i) flat screen televisions, (ii) DVD players and (iii) stereo equipment in the last three months.

Michael Wills: During the period in question, the Ministry had one main supplier for the provision of flat screen televisions, DVD players and stereo equipment. The contract for this supplier has been in place since October 2008. Prior to this, there had been one main supplier for such goods for NOMS but this contract was not open to the wider MOJ for use. Since November 2008, the expenditure on these items with the current main supplier by the Ministry is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Flat Screen Televisions 139,676 
			 DVD Players and Recorders 11,358 
			 Stereo Equipment 3,648 
			 Total 154,682 
		
	
	This contract is available to MoJ headquarters and its executive agencies (HM Courts Service, Tribunals Service, the Office of The Public Guardian, and the National Offender Management Service). The figure may, however, be incomplete as some equipment may have been purchased outside of the contract using the Government Procurement Card (GPC). To investigate whether any flat screen televisions, DVD players or stereo equipment had been purchased with the GPC card would incur disproportionate cost.

Prison Accommodation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many additional prison places his Department plans to provide in each year between 2008 and 2015; and what the total prison capacity will be in each such year;
	(2)  when he expects work to start on each of the five 1,500 capacity prisons his Department has proposed as an alternative to Titan prisons; and what the annual capital cost of constructing them will be in each year to 2014-15.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice aims to increase capacity to 96,000 prison places by 2014 which includes delivering an additional 20,000 prison places through the Capacity Programme. The precise numbers and delivery timings will depend on construction schedules and prioritisation within the prisons estate.
	The procurement process for the five 1,500 capacity prisons, known as the New Prisons Programme, is already under way. An OJEU notice to establish a private finance initiative (PFI) framework for firms who could design, build and operate these prisons was published on 3 August 2009. We anticipate appointing up to seven firms onto the framework in spring next year with the first prison being operational in 2013. Under the design, build and operate contracts NOMS will not pay a capital cost for construction and operation, and will instead be charged a single revenue stream covering these elements for the full period of the PFI contracts. It is therefore not possible to identify the capital cost of construction. However, we estimate the total cost of the five new prisons to be in the region of £1.2 billion (at 2008-09 prices and excluding VAT and site purchase costs).

Prisoner Escapes

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners serving sentences for  (a) murder,  (b) attempted murder,  (c) rape and  (d) attempted rape are currently unlawfully at large having escaped or absconded from prison.

Jack Straw: The following table shows that there is only one offender currently unlawfully at large who was serving a sentence for any of the four index offences named. Data prior to the periods shown in the table is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Absconds (which are from open prisons) and escapes (from closed prisons) have been falling for some years and 2008-09 recorded the lowest number of absconds and escapes on record. Tracking down prisoners unlawfully at large who may be a danger to the public is taken very seriously by the police and 96 per cent. of absconded prisoners are rearrested and returned to custody.
	
		
			  Prisoners still unlawfully at large in October 2009 following an escape or abscond and broken down by specific index offences 
			   Prisoners unlawfully at large with an index offence of: 
			   Murder  Attempted murder  Rape  Attempted rape 
			 Escapes since 1 April 1998 0 0 0 0 
			 Absconds since 1 April 2004 1 0 0 0

Unemployment: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many people aged between 16 and 24 years in  (a) Peterborough City Council area and  (b) Peterborough constituency had been unemployed for over (i) six and (ii) 12 months in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people aged between 16 and 24 years in  (a) Peterborough City Council area and  (b) Peterborough constituency were unemployed in (i) May 1997 and (ii) in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Jil Matheson, dated October 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many people aged between 16 and 24 years in (a) Peterborough City Council area and (b) Peterborough constituency had been unemployed for over (i) six and (ii) 12 months in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many people aged between 16 and 24 years in (a) Peterborough City Council area and (b) Peterborough constituency were unemployed in (i) May 1997 and (ii) in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available. (295115  295116)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	However, estimates of unemployment for the requested age bands and geographies are not available. As an alternative, in Table 1 we have provided the number of persons, aged 16 to 24, claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, in the requested geographies, for (i) over 6 months and (ii) over 12 months in September 2009 and the previous 11 months. Table 2 contains the number of persons aged 16 to 24 claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the requested geographies for (i) May 1997 and (ii) September 2009 and the previous 11 months.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of people aged 16 to 24 claiming jobseeker's allowance in Peterborough city council area and Peterborough parliamentary constituency for over six months and 12 months 
			   Peterborough city council  Peterborough constituency 
			   Claiming over six months  Claiming over 12 months  Claiming over six months  Claiming over 12 months 
			 October 2008 110 5 75 5 
			 November 2008 80 5 55 5 
			 December 2008 95 5 65 5 
			 January 2009 105 5 70 5 
			 February 2009 115 5 75 5 
			 March 2009 145 5 90 5 
			 April 2009 160 10 95 5 
			 May 2009 205 10 135 5 
			 June 2009 220 10 150 5 
			 July 2009 205 10 140 5 
			 August 2009 270 10 175 5 
			 September 2009 315 15 210 10 
			  Notes: 1. Data has been rounded to the nearest five. 2. People claiming for over 12 months are included in the counts of people claiming for over six months.  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of people aged 16 to 24 claiming jobseeker's allowance in Peterborough city council area and Peterborough parliamentary constituency 
			   Peterborough city council  Peterborough constituency 
			 May 1997 1,275 925 
			
			 October 2008 925 630 
			 November 2008 990 675 
			 December 2008 1,080 740 
			 January 2009 1,205 815 
			 February 2009 1,545 1,035 
			 March 2009 1,655 1,105 
			 April 2009 1,685 1,110 
			 May 2009 1,685 1,115 
			 June 2009 1,705 1,110 
			 July 2009 1,560 1,035 
			 August 2009 1,650 1,110 
			 September 2009 1,705 1,145 
			  Note: Data has been rounded to nearest five.  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were admitted to accident and emergency departments in hospitals in  (a) Bassetlaw primary care trust and  (b) Nottinghamshire County Teaching primary care trust in the last three years for which figures are available; and how many such patients spent more than four hours in such departments following admission.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Accident and emergency (AE) data collected centrally is by provider and not by commissioning primary care trust (PCT). Data has therefore been set out in the following table for the relevant providers. For Nottinghamshire County PCT, the providers are Nottingham University Hospital National Health Service (NHS) Trust (from Quarter 2 2006-07), Queen's Medical Centre (part of Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust) (Quarter 1 2006-07 only), and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For Bassetlaw PCT, the provider is Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust.
	These are the data submitted to the Department and subsequently published. We are aware of a review of the data at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, and therefore these data may change.
	
		
			  Total time spent in AE from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge, acute trusts in England, including activity at partner PCTs 
			 All AE/minor injuries units/walk-in centres (Type 1, 2, 3) 
			   Quarter  Name  Total attendances  Percentage of patients who spent less than four hours in AE  Breaches 
			 2009-10 1 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 39,810 98.3 688 
			 2008-09 4 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 37,078 98.7 468 
			 2008-09 3 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 37,365 98.3 633 
			 2008-09 2 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 39,203 98.3 647 
			 2008-09 1 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 39,763 98.5 615 
			 2007-08 4 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 36,422 97.6 871 
			 2007-08 3 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 37,181 97.8 800 
			 2007-08 2 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 39,139 98.4 610 
			 2007-08 1 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 39,513 98.3 668 
			 2006-07 4 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 36,909 98.3 641 
			 2006-07 3 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 37,212 99.3 256 
			 2006-07 2 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 39,771 98.5 615 
			 2006-07 1 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 39,416 98.1 760 
			   
			 2009-10 1 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 71,083 99.3 470 
			 2008-09 4 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 64,740 98.8 747 
			 2008-09 3 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 63,765 97.5 1,589 
			 2008-09 2 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 63,822 98.8 769 
			 2008-09 1 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 66,415 98.3 1,153 
			 2007-08 4 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 61,702 97.1 1,811 
			 2007-08 3 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 61,884 97.9 1,307 
			 2007-08 2 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 63,755 98.7 831 
			 2007-08 1 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 65,727 99.0 631 
			 2006-07 4 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 62,153 97.1 1,772 
			 2006-07 3 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 61,294 97.1 1,800 
			 2006-07 2 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 62,918 97.7 1,437 
			 2006-07 1 Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 62,339 97.7 1,428 
			   
			 2009-10 1 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 25,631 97.7 590 
			 2008-09 4 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 23,807 98.2 438 
			 2008-09 3 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 24,066 97.8 523 
			 2008-09 2 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 25,063 98.3 434 
			 2008-09 1 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 25,968 98.3 432 
			 2007-08 4 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 24,426 97.4 642 
			 2007-08 3 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 24,327 98.4 390 
			 2007-08 2 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 25,895 98.2 464 
			 2007-08 1 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 26,009 98.9 279 
			 2006-07 4 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 24,991 96.7 819 
			 2006-07 3 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 25,375 98.4 411 
			 2006-07 2 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 26,888 98.3 455 
			 2006-07 1 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 27,113 98.8 317 
			  Notes:  1. Mapped data for each hospital has been provided. Any treatment provided by PCT-managed minor injuries units and walk-in centres are mapped to the relevant Type 1 (Major AE) Unit.  2. Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust also has a Type 1 AE Department at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, which is based within Doncaster PCT.  3. Nottingham University Hospital and the Queen's Medical Centre are based in Nottingham City PCT, not within Nottinghamshire County PCT.   Source:  Department of Health dataset QMAE.

Carers: Derbyshire

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers are registered in  (a) Derbyshire and  (b) North East Derbyshire.

Phil Hope: Carers may register with a range of organisations for different purposes-there is no single register as such.
	The number of carers who care for a person aged 18 and over who are offered a carer's assessment or review during the year (1 April to 31 March) is collected annually from councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities on the Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care returns. Provisional data for 2008-09 was published in September.
	8,700 carers in Derbyshire county council and 1,700 carers in Derby unitary authority were offered an assessment or review in 2008-09.

Elderly: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the number of people aged 75 years and over who have a disability or limiting long-term illness in  (a) Leeds West constituency and  (b) the City of Leeds.

Phil Hope: Data on the number of people aged 75 years and over who have a disability or limiting long-term illness is not collected centrally.
	Data on the number of people receiving social services funded either fully or partially by councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) in England is collected and published by the Information Centre for health and social care as part of the Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care (RAP) return. Provisional data for 2008-09 was published in September 2009.
	During the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, the number of adults aged 65 and over with physical disabilities, frailty or a sensory impairment receiving a social care service funded either partly or wholly by their CASSR following a community care assessment by Leeds city council was 10,060.
	Data are not centrally available at constituency level.
	 Source:
	The Information Centre for health and social care.

Infectious Diseases: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of  (a) clostridium difficile and  (b) MRSA infection in (i) Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust and (ii) Nottinghamshire County Teaching Primary Care Trust was in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of Clostridium difficile infections, broken down by requested primary care trust (PCT) level, is available since 2007-08 and has been set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Clostridium difficile 
			   Number of cases  Rate per 100,000 population 
			  Bassetlaw PCT   
			 2007-08 52 47.6 
			 2008-09 49 44.8 
			  Nottinghamshire County PCT   
			 2007-08 820 127 
			 2008-09 452 70 
			 So urce:  Health Protection Agency 
		
	
	Data on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections is published at acute trust level only. The information is therefore not available in the format requested. Data for the Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust has been set out in the following table.
	
		
			  MRSA bacteraemia 
			   Number of cases  Rate per 100,000 population 
			  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust   
			 2006-07 44 1.66 
			 2007-08 36 1.43 
			 2008-09 31 1.24 
			  Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust   
			 2006-07 26 0.77 
			 2007-08 26 0.77 
			 2008-09 13 0.39 
			  Notes: 1. No acute trust headquarters are located in Bassetlaw PCT. However, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is located in Nottinghamshire Country Teaching PCT. Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust is located in Doncaster PCT. 2. Services at Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust are mainly commissioned by Doncaster PCT.  Source:  Health Protection Agency

Mental Health: Prisoners

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisoners in each strategic health authority region have been transferred to a secure mental health unit in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: The quarterly regional Prison Health Performance and Quality Indicators introduced in 2007-08, provide information about transfers of prisoners requiring inpatient treatment for mental disorder. Prior to this period, information is available on a quarterly basis but is not broken down by health authority regions.
	
		
			  Total numbers of transfers under all sections of the Mental Health Act 1983 per quarter 
			   Q uarter  1  Q uarter  2  Q uarter  3  Q uarter  4  Total 
			 2005-06 285 277 315 266 1,143 
			 2006-07 300 313 341 264 1,218 
			 2007-08 296 300 319 280 1,195 
			 2008-09 342 307 335 294 1,278 
			 2009-10 320 - - - - 
		
	
	Data covering the year 2007-08 is incomplete. Complete information broken down by strategic health authority regions and Wales for the year 2008-09 is in the following table.
	
		
			  Transfers under all sections of the Mental Health Act by strategic health authority 2008-09 
			  Region  Q uarter  1  Q uarter  2  Q uarter  3  Q uarter  4  Total 
			 North East 21 13 11 11 56 
			 Yorks and Humber 34 19 32 30 115 
			 North West 43 37 44 40 164 
			 East Midlands 28 24 27 16 95 
			 West Midlands 25 18 22 23 88 
			 Eastern 17 26 30 34 107 
			 London 85 79 81 71 316 
			 South East 46 51 54 47 198 
			 South West 34 27 27 13 101 
			 Wales 9 13 7 9 38 
			 Total 342 307 335 294 1,278

Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Health Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from  (a) hon. Members,  (b) members of the House of Lords,  (c) patient groups and  (d) clinicians on treatment and care for people diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); what his policy on such care and treatment is; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Since the beginning of the 2008-09 parliamentary year, the Department has received four parliamentary questions and at least 25 items of correspondence relating to myelodysplastic syndromes. Of these, 15 were from hon. Members, one from a member of the House of Lords and nine from members of the public.
	The 2003 Improving Outcomes in Haematological Cancers guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) sets out recommendations about the care and treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), with the emphasis on symptom control and supportive treatment.
	It is for the national health service locally to implement this guidance. Good progress has been made and the National Cancer Action Team continue to work with the NHS at a local level to ensure full implementation.
	NICE is currently appraising azacitidine for the treatment of MDS, and currently expects to publish final guidance on this drug in May 2010.

Patient Choice Schemes

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take for implementing a patient's right to make choices about their healthcare through statutory directions to primary care trusts; and whether those directions will be published.

Mike O'Brien: The Primary Care Trusts 'Choice of Secondary Care Provider Directions 2009' were published alongside the NHS Constitution on 21 January 2009 and came into effect on 1 April 2009. The Directions place a number of new duties on primary care trusts, including a duty to make arrangements to ensure that patients who need an elective referral are offered a choice of any clinically appropriate provider. The Directions have been placed in the Library.

Prescription Drugs: North Yorkshire

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of  (a) all medicines dispensed and  (b) medicines dispensed to patients aged 60 years and over by the NHS in North Yorkshire and York was in each year since 1996-97.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not available in the format requested. Information showing the net ingredient cost of medicines dispensed via an FP10 prescription in primary care within the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust for the period September 2004 to August 2009 is shown in the following table.
	The cost of medicines dispensed for patients aged 60 years and over is not available.
	
		
			  Information showing the net ingredient cost of medicines dispensed via an FPI0 prescription in primary care within the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust for the period September 2004 to August 2009 
			   Number of items ( Thousand )  Net ingredient cost (£000)  Average net ingredient cost per item (£) 
			 September 2004 914 9,942 10.88 
			 October 2004 947 9,976 10.54 
			 November 2004 942 10,067 10.69 
			 December 2004 976 10,577 10.83 
			 January 2005 871 9,496 10.90 
			 February 2005 824 8,586 10.42 
			 March 2005 925 9,647 10.44 
			 September 2004 to March 2005 6,398 68,291 10.67 
			 
			 April 2005 940 9,522 10.13 
			 May 2005 911 9,223 10.12 
			 June 2005 968 9,798 10.12 
			 July 2005 925 9,227 9.97 
			 August 2005 942 9,452 10.03 
			 September 2005 967 9,811 10.15 
			 October 2005 1,020 10,099 9.90 
			 November 2005 1,004 10,096 10.06 
			 December 2005 993 10,242 10.31 
			 January-2006 935 9,652 10.32 
			 February 2006 881 9,096 10.32 
			 March 2006 1,011 10,273 10.16 
			 Total for year 2005-06 11,498 116,492 10.13 
			 
			 April 2006 892 9,087 10.19 
			 May 2006 972 9,901 10.19 
			 June 2006 999 10,092 10.11 
			 July 2006 945 9,723 10.29 
			 August 2006 977 10,103 10.34 
			 September 2006 955 9,884 10.35 
			 October 2006 1,018 9,707 9.53 
			 November 2006 1,064 10,067 9.46 
			 December 2006 998 9,686 9.70 
			 January 2007 1,023 10,135 9.91 
			 February 2007 916 9,088 9.93 
			 March 2007 1,022 10,200 9.98 
			 Total for year 2006-07 11,780 117,674 9.99 
			 
			 April 2007 961 9,777 10.18 
			 May 2007 1,033 10,498 10.16 
			 June 2007 1,006 10,280 10.22 
			 July 2007 1,027 10,184 9.92 
			 August 2007 1,046 10,395 9.94 
			 September 2007 963 9,615 9.98 
			 October 2007 1,145 10,350 9.04 
			 November 2007 1,091 9,966 9.13 
			 December 2007 1,025 9,540 9.31 
			 January 2008 1,060 9,857 9.30 
			 February 2008 996 9,369 9.41 
			 March 2008 989 9,238 9.34 
			 Total for year 2007-08 12,341 119,069 9.65 
			 
			 April 2008 1,074 10,045 9.35 
			 May 2008 1,065 9,942 9.34 
			 June 2008 1,035 9,671 9.35 
			 July 2008 1,114 10,414 9.35 
			 August 2008 1,030 9,699 9.42 
			 September 2008 1,066 10,034 9.42 
			 October 2008 1,231 11,269 9.16 
			 November 2008 1,057 9,768 9.24 
			 December 2008 1,175 10,990 9.35 
			 January 2009 1,082 10,136 9.37 
			 February 2009 1,005 9,517 9.47 
			 March 2009 1,109 10,124 9.13 
			 Total for year 2008-09 13,041 121,608 9.32 
			 
			 April 2009 1,113 10,150 9.12 
			 May 2009 1,087 10,044 9.24 
			 June 2009 1,142 10,520 9.21 
			 July 2009 1,184 11,088 9.37 
			 August 2009 1,064 9,930 9.33 
			 April 2009 to August 2009 5,590 51,732 9.25 
			 Total September 2004 to August 2009 60,649 594,866 9.81 
			  Notes:  1. Data have been supplied by financial year 2005-06 to 2008-09. Only the last 60 months data are available; therefore data prior to September 2004 are not available. September to December data are available for 2004. March to August data are available for 2009-10.  2. NHS Prescription Services (RxS) is responsible for the reimbursement and remuneration of dispensing contractors in England on behalf of the Department of Health. NHS RxS captures prescription items submitted by dispensing contractors for reimbursement and remuneration purposes.  3. North Yorkshire and York has been defined as the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT).  4. On 1 October 2006 four PCTs, Hambelton and Richmondshire PCT, Craven Harrogate and Rural District PCT, Scarborough, Whitby and Rydale PCT and Selby and York PCT merged to form North Yorkshire and York PCT. The data provided prior to October 2006 have been collated from these PCTs and have been structured in line with current PCT arrangements.  5. The data are based on England community dispensing (not prescribing) data only. These may include items prescribed in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man which have been dispensed in England. The data exclude items prescribed in England but dispensed in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Isle of Man.  6. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in prisons, hospitals, including mental health trusts, walk-in centres or private prescriptions but do include prison and hospital prescriptions which are dispensed in the community.  7. Prescriptions are written/printed on a prescription form. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item.  8. The net ingredient cost is the basic price of a drug prior to discount being deducted (where applicable) as stated in Part II Clause 8 of the Drug Tariff for England and Wales (www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/edt_intro.htm). It excludes dispensing fees, container allowances and other fees paid to contractors.  9. The average net ingredient cost per item for North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust has fallen significantly between September 2004 and August 2009. This follows the downward trend in the national average net ingredient cost over the same period.  Prescription exemption data.  10. When determining payment to contractors, it is only necessary for NHS RxS to determine whether:  a prescription charge has been collected; or  a patient has completed a declaration of exemption, when a declaration is required.  Up until November 2007, NHS RxS determined and recorded the exemption category on every 20th form that is exempt from the prescription charge. The data were recorded from the tick-box shown on the reverse of FP10 prescription forms, and where appropriate from the age or date of birth printed on the front of the form. This relied on the form to be clear and completed correctly which may not have always been the case.  11. The information from the sample of prescription forms informed the Department of Health of the frequency of claims for exemption from prescription charges in each exemption category.  12. Due to the method applied when sampling exemption data, this information can only be viewed as an estimate of the number of products issued for patients within an exemption category and is not statistically valid when applied to individual PCT's.  13. From December 2007 NHS RxS changed the processes for pricing prescriptions and for capturing prescription charge exemption status. Therefore NHS RxS cannot reliably estimate the data for each exemption category relating to the age of the patient from this date.  14. The processes for capturing information during the reimbursement and remuneration processes undertaken formerly by the Prescription Pricing Authority, and latterly by NHS RxS, were designed to allow an analysis of trends in prescribing and dispensing patterns. However, tighter statistical governance requirements and greater scrutiny of the level of accuracy and precision of data within the NHS suggest that it would be inappropriate to provide exemption category data in detail.  Source:  National Health Service RxS Information System.

Rare Conditions: Medical Treatments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's end of life criteria on patient access to treatments for rare conditions aimed at extending life; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: We have made no such assessment. The application of the explicit end-of-life flexibilities to individual appraisals is a matter for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as an independent body.
	The application of this flexibility, along with patient access schemes, have resulted in positive NICE guidance on a number of treatments including Sutent for renal cell carcinoma and Revlimid for multiple myeloma.

Treatment Centres and Hospitals

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the performance of  (a) independent sector treatment centres and  (b) NHS hospitals in undertaking emergency medical procedures.

Mike O'Brien: Independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) provide elective care, not emergency care.
	ISTCs have procedures in place to respond to complications, including arrangements with a local national health service trust in case of an unforeseen emergency.
	As part of performance monitoring of ISTCs there is a key performance indicator included in the contracts, which sets out the performance criteria on the transfer activity of patients. This activity is reviewed by the primary care trust (PCT) Commissioner at a Joint Service Review between the provider, commissioner and key stakeholders, undertaken quarterly to assess the performance of ISTCs.
	PCTs commission and contract with NHS hospital trusts to provide emergency care services according to local needs. They are responsible for monitoring the performance of those trusts. The Department has set a national standard that patients should not wait more than four hours in accident and emergency departments from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. National annual performance against the standard was 98.1 per cent. in 2008-09 and national performance in quarter 1 of 2009-10 was 98.6 per cent. 98 per cent. achievement against the standard is regarded as a success. The 2 per cent. margin allows some patients to remain longer in Accident and Emergency where there is a clinical need to do so.

Apprentices: Aerospace Industry

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships there are in  (a) the aerospace industry and  (b) those parts of the (i) Eurofighter and (ii) Airbus consortia operating in England.

Kevin Brennan: Information is not available to identify the total number of apprentices in the categories asked for. Data can only reliably be presented down to levels such as Apprenticeship frameworks to which the aerospace industry would be a relatively small component in categories such as engineering and IT.
	Information about companies providing Apprenticeships is not currently available centrally. From 1 August 2009 we have begun to collect standardised data on the employer with whom the apprentice is placed. This is a new requirement of providers, primarily to assess trends in employer engagement by sector rather than to identify activity at the individual employer level where corporate structures, especially for large organisations, can make such analysis extremely difficult. We expect to review the quality and relevance of the data when sufficient volume of data are available and subject to confidentiality rules consider whether it can be published on a regular basis.

Broadband: Sussex

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase access to broadband coverage in  (a) Mid Sussex constituency and  (b) West Sussex.

Stephen Timms: We have recently set up the Network Design and Procurement Company as we pledged to do in the Digital Britain Report. The Company will be responsible for procuring the upgrade and replacement works to deliver the Universal Service Commitment (USC) for 2Mbps to virtually every community by 2012 and, in due course, the administration of the Next Generation Fund outlined in the Digital Britain White Paper.
	On take up of broadband and Digital Inclusion the Government have also appointed Martha Lane Fox as our Digital Inclusion Champion. Her role will be to find ways of helping people without previous experience of computers to develop the skills needed to make use of the internet in order to take advantage of the benefits it offers.

Business: Government Assistance

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications have been  (a) received and  (b) granted for funding from the £100 million Government support scheme made available for small and medium-sized enterprises in Budget 2009 to improve their energy efficiency.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	After applying the Barnett formula, £83.9 million of the £100 million funding announced at Budget 2009 was allocated to the Carbon Trust by DECC for loans to SMEs in England in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	The Carbon Trust informs me that they have received 746 applications for this funding, of which 623 have been approved. This amounts to £18.1 million in loan commitments in England since April, more than double the volume of loans offered at this point in the last financial year.

Digital Technology: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made towards establishment of an independently produced guiding technical arbitration on the cost of 900 spectrum refarming paid for by an industry fund.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 16 October 2009
	This work is now complete. The Independent Spectrum Broker has submitted his final report and this will be published as part of a consultation on a Direction to the independent regulator, Ofcom, shortly.

Employment: EC Law

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions  (a) the Secretary of State and  (b) the Minister for Employment Relations have had with the Prime Minister on the date for implementation of the EU Agency Workers Directive.

Patrick McFadden: My Noble Friend the Secretary of State and I discuss a range of employment issues with the Prime Minister from time to time. The Prime Minister has made clear his commitment to legislate on the implementation of the Agency Workers Directive in the current Parliament.

Employment: EC Law

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish a response to his Department's consultation paper of May 2009 on the implementation of the EU Agency Workers Directive.

Patrick McFadden: The Government's response, which included a consultation on draft Regulations, was published on 15 October; copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Higher Education

Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department and its predecessors spent on increasing the retention rate in higher education in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: In addition to its core teaching funding, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) provides institutions with additional funding to help support student retention. The total amounts for the last five academic years are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Full Time Students 159,353,247 166,640,907 184,128,520 188,582,804 192,875,340 
			 Part Time Students 53,883,613 54,283,169 55,763,058 57,351,573 60,292,489 
			  Source:  Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) 
		
	
	We maintain very good completion rates for first degrees-OECD statistics show that the UK ranks third of 27 countries. This has been achieved and maintained during a
	period when higher education has been opened up to both increased numbers and a greater diversity of students.

Higher Education: Age Participation Rates

Jim Cousins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the rate of participation by 18 year olds resident in each region of England in higher education has been in each year since 2003-04.

David Lammy: This information is currently only available for the years 2005-06 and 2006-07. Nationally, the latest figures show that some 31 per cent. of young people who were in maintained schools at age 15 in 2002/03 had progressed to HE by age 19 by 2006/07. This latest percentage is derived from the matched Higher Education Statistics-National Pupil Database-Individual Learning Record dataset and reflects those persons who progress to HE in 2005/06 at age 18 or in 2006/07 at age 19.
	The figures for each Government office region (GOR) are shown in the table. Children aged 15 were allocated to each GOR based on the location of the school they attended.
	
		
			  Percentage of 15-year-old students in maintained schools in England who progressed to higher education by age 19-split by Government office region 
			   2005-06( 1)  2006-07( 2) 
			 London 35 36 
			 West Midlands 29 30 
			 North West 29 30 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 27 27 
			 North East 27 27 
			 South West 29 29 
			 East of England 30 30 
			 South East 32 32 
			 East Midlands 30 30 
			 England 30 31 
			 (1) Percentage of children aged 15 attending maintained schools in 2001-02 who progressed to higher education by 2005-06 by age 19 (2) Percentage of children aged 15 attending maintained schools in 2002-03 who progressed to higher education by 2006-07 by age 19  Source: Matched Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), National Pupil Database (NPD) and Individual Learner Record (ILR)

Manufacturing Industries

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the implications for the manufacturing industry in the UK of levels of foreign ownership of that industry; and what discussions he has had with trade union representatives on the subject.

Ian Lucas: The UK economy benefits very substantially from its openness to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Research was carried out for UKTI by Professor Richard Harris of the University of Glasgow in 2008/09 looking at the effects of FDI on both services and manufacturing, focusing specifically on the effects of mergers and acquisitions, but also looking at other types of FDI. The full final report is now available from the UKTI Economics and Evaluation team, and is due to be published on the UKTI website in November, under the title The Effect of Foreign Mergers and Acquisitions on UK Productivity and Employment.
	We have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, including trade unions, about manufacturing, including on topics such as foreign investment.

Manufacturing Insight

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) schools and  (b) universities have been visited by representatives of the Manufacturing Insight office since its inception.

Ian Lucas: Nick Hussey was appointed director of Manufacturing Insight on 1 September 2009 and has not yet visited schools or universities. He is expected to make contact with key players in education establishments once the Manufacturing Insight business plan has been agreed. The business plan is currently being agreed with the board and is expected to be finalised autumn 2009.

Mobile Phones: Unfair Practices

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with mobile telephone operators on the compatibility of their policy of mobile termination rates with fair trading practices; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I meet regularly with all the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to discuss a range of issues, including Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs).
	With the independent industry regulator Ofcom, the Department for Business (BIS) is committed to reducing mobile termination rates and making the cost of calling more affordable for all consumers. MTRs are set to fall by about a quarter between 2007 and 2011. Earlier this year Ofcom undertook a further public consultation on how mobile termination rates should be set after the current pricing system ends in 2011.
	A range of options, from removing them altogether to maintaining the current system and radical options in between, are being considered to ensure the best outcome is secured for consumers and a changing mobile market.

Motor Vehicles: Innovation

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department and its predecessors have taken to support research and development in the automotive industry in the last five years.

Ian Lucas: BIS and its predecessors have worked with other Government Departments, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and other organisations to support research and development (RD) by the UK automotive sector in a range of ways over the last five years. In particular, the Technology Strategy Board's Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform, launched in May 2007, is the key delivery agent for the Government's RD funding on low carbon vehicles. The Low Carbon Vehicles Integrated Delivery Programme is a key tool that the Innovation Platform will use to achieve its goal over the coming five years. The programme involves about £250 million of joint government and industry investment and co-ordinates the UK's low carbon vehicle activity from initial strategic academic research through to industry-led collaborative RD. £25 million has been allocated to highly innovative, industry-led collaborative research projects in the field of ultra low carbon vehicle development and demonstration.
	Government have also supported automotive RD through the Centres of Excellence on Low Carbon and Fuel Cells (CENEX) and Intelligent Transport Systems and Sustainable Mobility (InnovITS) which have received total funding from this Department of over £13 million. The Foresight Vehicle programme ran from 1997 to 2007 and supported RD through the associated LINK programme.
	Government provided over £45 million funding which supported 100 collaborative RD projects with a value in excess of £100 million. In addition, the £2.3 billion Automotive Assistance Programme has been designed, among other things, to help support the development of cutting-edge technology in the longer term.

MW Kellogg: Export Credit Guarantees

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the support provided by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in connection with the LNG Plant at Bonny Island in Nigeria included commissions to agents.

Ian Lucas: No.

MW Kellogg: Export Credit Guarantees

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps were taken by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to ascertain whether MW Kellogg Ltd. or other subsidiaries of Halliburton were implicated in  (a) domestic and  (b) foreign jurisdictions in allegations of bribery in connection with the LNG Plant at Bonny Island in Nigeria.

Ian Lucas: Prior to committing its support for the supplies of goods and services by MW Kellogg Ltd. to the LNG plant at Bonny Island in Nigeria, ECGD obtained from the company a warranty that to the best of its knowledge no-one, including anyone acting on its behalf, had engaged in any corrupt activity in connection with the goods and services for which ECGD provide its support. Following the provision of its support, ECGD became aware of allegations of bribery and corruption in connection with the LNG plant at Bonny Island. Since ECGD is not an investigatory body and has no investigatory powers, it does not carry out investigations into such allegations but reports them to the Serious Fraud Office

Northern Rock: Corporate Hospitality

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Shareholder Executive has spent on entertaining staff of Northern Rock since January 2008.

Patrick McFadden: Gary Hoffman (chief executive) and Anne Godbehere (chief finance officer) of Northern Rock attended the Shareholder Executive Annual Reception on the 9 October 2008.
	The cost of the reception, quoted by Government Hospitality, was £35 per head.

Public Appointments

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what duties the new Chief Construction Officer will have.

Ian Lucas: The duties of the chief construction adviser will be to:
	Chair a new construction category board, which will build on the work of the existing Public Sector Construction Clients Forum, to oversee the implementation and further the development of best value in Government construction procurement;
	Chair an enhanced sustainable construction strategy delivery board to help ensure policy regarding the industry is effectively co-ordinated;
	Assess the key barriers to growth in the UK's low carbon construction sector to ensure the UK is well placed to serve developing needs and markets;
	Work with the industry, through the Strategic Forum for Construction, to deliver the industry improvement agenda, including the Construction Commitments;
	Promote innovation in the sector, working closely with the Technology Strategy Board and other funding bodies;
	Co-ordinate the Whitehall response to reports featuring construction.
	The chief construction adviser will also lead the Low Carbon Review of the Construction Industry announced by the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills on 17 September.

Regulatory Policy Committee

John Penrose: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much it cost to establish the Regulatory Policy Committee; and what estimate he has made of its running costs are for 2009-10.

Ian Lucas: The Regulatory Policy Committee is being funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills from within existing departmental budgets. The chair and members will be unpaid and the secretariat will be provided by existing BIS civil servants occupying accommodation on the BIS estate.

Royal Mail: Industrial Disputes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what compensation is available to small businesses adversely affected by industrial action by Royal Mail employees; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: It is clear that national postal strikes will have an impact on small businesses that heavily depend upon Royal Mail services. Compensation for delayed mail is a matter for Royal Mail who have put in place a compensation framework agreed with Postcomm, the industry regulator. Compensation for delays caused by industrial action relating to Royal Mail's bulk mail products is subject to a decision by the Regulator.

Royal Mail: Industrial Disputes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the effects of a national strike by Royal Mail employees to  (a) online retailers,  (b) small businesses and  (c) the UK economy.

Patrick McFadden: It is clear that national postal strikes will have an impact on those businesses and associated services that heavily rely on Royal Mail services.
	We are in regular contact with both the management and the union about the dispute. Our message to them is that, in the interests of Royal Mail, the CWU's members and the country, they should sit down and resolve this dispute through talks.

Royal Mail: Industrial Disputes

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what compensation will be paid by the Royal Mail to businesses which can demonstrate financial losses from postal strikes.

Patrick McFadden: Compensation for delayed mail is a matter for Royal Mail who have put in place a compensation framework agreed with Postcomm, the industry regulator. Details concerning Royal Mail's compensation procedures can be found on Royal Mail's website
	www.royalmail.com
	Compensation for delays caused by industrial action relating to Royal Mail's bulk mail products is subject to a decision by the Regulator.

Students: Finance

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Uxbridge of 11 June 2009,  Official Report, column 1009W, on student finance, when he expects to announce the independent review of tuition fees.

David Lammy: My right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Education and Skills, told the House in January 2004 that there would be an independent review of tuition fees once we had evidence on the first three years of the variable fee regime.
	My noble Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, has announced that the Independent Review of Variable Tuition Fees will be launched this autumn.

Students: Finance

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the merits of reducing the cost to students of taking a second degree.

David Lammy: In general, we believe it is right to give priority in spending public funds on students studying a degree for the first time. This has for some time been our policy on financial support for students, and it has increasingly been our policy in respect of the teaching grant paid to universities since 2008. We believe it to be the right policy on grounds of equity because it allows more people access to higher education; and because it is the most effective way to grow the number of people with high levels skills. There are exceptions to this general presumption: for example, students going to study at a higher level, and students studying programmes which most clearly meet economic needs such as foundation degree programmes.

Telephone Services: Fife

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) households and  (b) businesses in (i) Fife and (ii) North East Fife constituency which will be (A) liable for and (B) exempt from payment of the levy on telephone lines proposed in the Digital Britain White Paper.

Patrick McFadden: This Department has made no specific estimate of the number of  (a) households and  (b) businesses in (i) Fife and (ii) North East Fife constituency which will be (A) liable for and (B) exempt from payment of the levy on telephone lines proposed in the Digital Britain White Paper.
	Ofcom estimates that there are 172,121 fixed lines in the Fife area. We do not have estimates on the number of people on benefits in this constituency but recognise that those on the lowest incomes might have difficulty paying the fixed line levy and that is why we have confirmed that those on social telephony schemes will be exempt. The social telephony schemes are available to those on Income support, Income-based job seeker's allowance, employment support allowance (income rated) or guaranteed pensions credit and should be an accurate indication of ability to pay.

Training: Finance

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department provided to employers for employer-based training as classified by the Sector Skills Council in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Kevin Brennan: The Department's main support for work-based adult skills training is provided through the Train to Gain and Apprenticeships programmes. In 2006-07 the expenditure on both these programmes was £457 million; in 2007-08 it rose to £585 million.

UK Innovation Investment Fund: Finance

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding the Government will provide for the new UK Innovation Investment Fund in the next three years; and how much private sector investment he expects the Fund to receive in that period.

David Lammy: The Government are committing £150 million of tax payer's investment to build a fund of up to £1 billion over its 10-year life. The Government expect that their investment of £150 million will leverage significant investment from the private sector.

Video Games

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value of  (a) video game exports and  (b) video game imports was in each year from 2001 to 2008.

Ian Lucas: Full figures are not separately identifiable for trade in video games as a whole: royalties, licence fees and trade in services associated with video games are not separately identifiable; nor are trade in goods figures for video games not for use with a television receiver. The figures in the following table are for trade in goods for video games for use with a television receiver (Harmonised System code 950410) recorded in the overseas trade statistics.
	
		
			   Exports  Imports 
			 2001 71 216 
			 2002 139 465 
			 2003 104 387 
			 2004 68 283 
			 2005 86 285 
			 2006 11 516 
			 2007 182 1,026 
			 2008 220 1,140

White Phosphorus

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what information the Export Control Organisation requires of companies seeking an export licence for munitions containing white phosphorus.

Ian Lucas: Companies applying a standard individual export licence (SIEL) to export any munitions, including those containing white phosphorus, must provide the Export Control Organisation with sufficient information to allow an assessment against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria and any other relevant announced policies to be made.
	This includes providing sufficient technical details to allow the correct control list entry for the goods to be identified; specific quantities and values; the name of the end-user, consignee and any other parties involved in the transaction; and information on what the munitions will be used for. Companies also have to supply a signed end-user undertaking from the end user, which is used to corroborate information provided in the application form.
	Applications for open individual export licences (OIEL) must include the same information, except specific quantities and values and not normally required.

Community Development

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the research report associated with his Department's publication Evaluation of the Take-up and Use of the Well-being Power: research summary published in November 2008.

Rosie Winterton: The research report was published in November 2008 by the university of Birmingham and university of the West of England, entitled 'Formative Evaluation of the Take-up and Implementation of the Well Being Power, 2003-07, Final Report 2007'. A copy has been placed in the House Library.

Eco-towns: Domestic Waste

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has participated in the production of guidance on the prevention of household waste in eco-towns.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 21 July 2009,  Official Report, columns 1652-653W.

Fire Prevention

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent guidance and advice notes his Department has issued in relation to  (a) integrated fire risk management plans and  (b) the national fire services framework.

Shahid Malik: IRMP Guidance Note 4 was reissued in September 2009 and offers Fire and Rescue Authorities a framework in which to develop, implement and manage a risk-based inspection programme which takes account of both the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and CLG's update of the 'Other Building Fire Frequencies' data which underpins the Fire Service Emergency Cover (FSEC) Toolkit.
	The current Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) National Framework for 2008 to 2010 was published May 2008.
	The Department issues FRS circulars, the majority of which provide important information or guidance on expectations set out within the National Framework. A table listing the 62 circulars issued to date for 2009 has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Fire Prevention

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent guidance his Department has issued to fire authorities on Community Risk Management.

Shahid Malik: Fire and Rescue Authorities produce Community Risk Plans as part of the Integrated Risk Management Planning process.
	FRAs are required by the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework to have in place and maintain an Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) which reflects local need and sets out plans to tackle effectively both existing and potential risks to communities. The IRMP enables the authority to tailor cover for fire and other incidents to local circumstances-evaluating where risk is greatest and allocating resource accordingly.
	A range of guidance on the drawing up of IRMPs has been issued to FRAs and is available on the Communities and Local Government website.
	FRAs are also required by the National Framework, in drawing up their IRMPs, to have regard to the risk analyses completed by Local and Regional Resilience Forums including those reported in external Community Risk Registers (CRRs) and internal risk registers, to ensure that civil and terrorist contingencies are captured in their IRMP.
	The Cabinet Office issues guidance in the form of the Local Risk Assessment Guidance which contains information on generic hazards and threats that should assist to CAT 1 responders (including the fire and rescue service) in performing their risk assessment duties required under the Civil Contingencies Act.

FiReBuy

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 28 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1422W, if he will now place in the Library a copy of the Stage 3 Gateway Review on the FireBuy integrated clothing project.

Shahid Malik: As reported in the response of 28 January 2009, it is not general practice to make available the outcome of gateway reviews. The Stage 3 Gateway Review of Firebuy's Integrated Clothing Project will therefore not be placed in the Library.

Green Belt: South East

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 2 June 2009,  Official Report, column 454W, on green belt: South East, whether a sustainability appraisal was undertaken in relation to the specific proposals in the South East Plan to review green belt protection in named locations.

Shahid Malik: The South East Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) was subject to a Sustainability Appraisal, before it was published in May of this year, as required by Section 39(2) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. That included an assessment of the effect of the policies in the RSS.

Local Government Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's policy on the Total Place initiative is; and how many councils he expects to participate in pilot schemes under the initiative.

Rosie Winterton: Total Place is an ambitious initiative that will consider how a 'whole area' approach to public services can lead to better services at less cost through 13 pilot areas covering 63 councils from across England.
	This work forms part of the Operational Efficiency programme (OEP) strand led by Sir Michael Bichard which seeks to create the environment where collaboration and innovation on the frontline leads to reduced costs and new ways of working.
	Each of the pilots have picked at least one particular theme to explore in detail how delivery partners in the pilot area will work together, to identify innovative ways to deliver better, customer-led services for less. It will help them to bring together the evidence on the needs of their customers, and on what is being spent, by which agencies, and on what services, to address those needs.

Local Government: Elections

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has performed an impact assessment in relation to the proposals contained in its consultation paper on Changing council government arrangements: for mayors and indirectly elected leaders.

Rosie Winterton: The focus of the Changing Council Governance Arrangements consultation were proposals set out in the white paper, Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power. An impact assessment for those proposals was published on the Department's website on 9 July 2008 and can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/communitiesincontrol6

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what month in 2009 his Department plans to start publishing figures on the number of households which have received support from the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme.

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to publish figures on the take-up of the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people in each London borough have  (a) applied for and  (b) been granted assistance under the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme in each quarter since the scheme's inception; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (John Battle) on 21 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1506.

Non-Domestic Rates: Religious Buildings

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 3 June 2009,  Official Report, column 591W, on non-domestic rates: religious buildings, what criteria the Registrar General uses when determining whether to certify the premises of a faith community or religion as a place of religious worship.

Meg Hillier: I have been asked to reply.
	The Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 provides for places of meeting for religious worship to be certified to the Registrar General but does not apply to the established Church. When considering the registration of a building which has been certified as a place of religious worship, the Registrar General applies the judgment by the Court of Appeal in the Segerdal case. The main finding in the judgment is that the words 'place of meeting for religious worship' in the Act connote a place of which the principal use is for people to come together as a congregation to worship God or do reverence to a deity. Apart from the Church of England and the Church in Wales, any faith or denomination which meets these criteria would be capable of recognition under the 1855 Act.

Racial Discrimination

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July 2009,  Official Report, columns 118-9WS, on the Tackling Race Inequalities Fund, when he expects funding to be allocated to each organisation listed.

Shahid Malik: The Tackling Race Inequalities Fund programme was announced subject to agreeing detailed work programmes and monitoring and reporting arrangements.
	As at 14 October my Department has approved 26 of the detailed workplans out of the total 27 successful projects.
	The Tackling Race Inequalities Fund (TRIF) Managing Agent-the Community Development Foundation (CDF)-has issued a total of 24 funding agreements to the TRIF funded organisations that have approved workplans; they are currently in contact with the organisations to agree administrative processes, and the last organisation regarding their detail work programme. CDF has received 13 signed funding agreements and paid over grant funding on receipt of a grant claim from these TRIF funded organisations.

Tenant Services Authority

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the terms of reference of the Tenant Services Authority's new advisory group on investigating new forms of tenancy and part-ownership are.

John Healey: The formation of an advisory group was announced by the CEO of the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) at the National Housing Federation conference in September. The objective of the group is to review the needs of prospective tenants and the role of mutual, and community forms of ownership in meeting those needs, while identifying options that may help meet the needs of people unable to access affordable housing in places they want to live and work.
	The terms of reference for this group are currently being developed.

Tony Clements

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 16 July 2009,  Official Report, column 655W, on Tony Clements, whether Mr. Tony Clements works with any Minister in his Department in a political advisory role; and what the  (a) terms and  (b) duration of his employment are.

Barbara Follett: Mr. Clements is employed as civil servant, and does not, therefore, work in a political advisory role. He has a one-year fixed-term contract, with standard terms and conditions.

Employment and Support Allowance

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average time taken to process  (a) an employment support allowance (ESA) claim where a medical certificate was required and  (b) an ESA claim where a repeat or duplicate request for a medical certificate was made was in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by benefit delivery centre;
	(2)  how many requests have been made for medical certificates for the purpose of processing employment support allowance (ESA) claims in the most recent period for which figures are available; and how many duplicate or repeat requests have been made for medical certificates for the purpose of processing ESA claims, broken down by benefit delivery centre in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking what the average time taken to process (a) an Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claim where a medical certificate was required and (b) an ESA claim where a repeat or duplicate request for a medical certificate was made in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by benefit delivery centre; and how many requests have been made for medical certificates for the purpose of processing Employment and Support Allowance claims in the most recent period for which figures are available; and how many duplicate or repeat requests have been made for medical certificates for the purpose of processing ESA claims, broken down by benefit delivery centre in each case. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Performance against our average processing time targets are published on the Jobcentre Plus external website. The clearance times for Employment and Support Allowance are not yet part of Jobcentre Plus's targets. They will form part of the published target suite from April 2010 and will be placed on the website shortly afterwards.
	The reason for the delay in publishing the official figures is because it is necessary for Jobcentre Plus to first collect an appropriate amount of performance data with which to inform and set a relevant target level.
	We are currently exploring whether we can develop some official statistics on processing times for Employment and Support Allowance new claims in the near future.
	Jobcentre Plus does not collate any information on requests for medical certificates so. we are unable to supply the information requested with relevance to this element.

Employment and Support Allowance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of those who stopped claiming employment and support allowance before their assessment was completed were  (a) in work,  (b) claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) and  (c) not recorded as being in work or claiming JSA up to the end of August 2009.

Jim Knight: holding answer 21 October 2009
	The information is not available in the form requested. However, statistics published last week showed that between October 2008 and February 2009 38 per cent of new claimants to employment and support allowance stopped claiming benefit before the work capability assessment in their case was completed.

Housing Benefit

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit claimants there were in each year since 1997.

Helen Goodman: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of housing benefit recipients in Great Britain : May 1997 to May 2007 
			   Number 
			 1997 4,639,350 
			 1998 4,474,700 
			 1999 4,313,100 
			 2000 4,033,300 
			 2001 3,874,400 
			 2002 3,812,630 
			 2003 3,796,420 
			 2004 3,879,420 
			 2005 3,956,820 
			 2006 3,990,030 
			 2007 4,031,810 
			  Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases  Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. taken in May 1997 to May 2007 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of housing benefit recipients in Great Britain November 2008 and May 2009 
			   Number 
			 2008 4,168,610 
			 2009 4,403,980 
			  Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases.  Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) for November 2008 and May 2009 taken from Table 2 of publication at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/HBCTB19082009.xls

Incapacity Benefit

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of completed work capability assessments have involved former claimants of incapacity benefit; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 21 October 2009
	National level statistics on the Work Capability Assessment covering Great Britain were published on 13 October 2009 and are available via the Office for National Statistics Publication Hub. A copy of the publication has been placed in the Library and can be accessed directly on the following website:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca.asp
	Full benefit information for completed Work Capability Assessments is not available as some assessments cannot yet be linked to an Employment and Support Allowance claim. The volume and percentage of all Employment and Support Allowance new claims from October 2008 to February 2009 that have completed the Work Capability Assessment with an incapacity benefit claim in the previous two years are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number and percentage of employment and support allowance new claims from October 2008 to February 2009 completing the work capability assessment with an incapacity benefit claim in the two years prior to the employment and support allowance claim 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Total 20,400 - 
			 Percentage - 20 
			  Notes: 1. This data is based on recorded advice from ATOS, rather than the Decision Maker's final determination. The final outcomes of cases may change. This will be further compounded by reconsiderations following additional medical evidence and the outcomes of appeals. Full guidance on the national figures is included in the published statistics referred to in the table. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

Industrial Injuries Scheme: Knees

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account her Department takes of the participation of miners in industrial action in 1984 and 1985 when reckoning service in order to determine the compensation payable for  (a) miners' beat knee and  (b) osteoarthritis of the knee.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 14 October 2009
	 Periods of industrial action in 1984 and 1985 are not relevant in considering entitlement to PD A6 (Beat Knee).
	For Osteoarthritis of the Knee, periods of industrial action exceeding three months in 1984 and 1985 do not qualify as time spent underground and therefore do not count towards the 10 year qualifying period.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Fife

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what average length of time a claimant received jobseeker's allowance in North East Fife constituency in  (a) each of the last 12 months and  (b) each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information is in the following tables:
	
		
			  Average length of tim e a claimant received jobseeker' s allowance in North East Fife constituency in each of the last 12 months 
			   Median ( n umber of  w eeks) 
			 October 2008 7.0 
			 November 2008 6.7 
			 December 2008 6.3 
			 January 2009 7.6 
			 February 2009 10.4 
			 March 2009 9.1 
			 April 2009 8.2 
			 May 2009 11.4 
			 June 2009 10.9 
			 July 2009 12.5 
			 August 2009 9.1 
			 September 2009 10.8 
			  Source:  DWP WPLS 100 per cent. data 
		
	
	
		
			  Average length of time a claimant received jobseeker ' s allowance in North East Fife constituency in each of the last five years 
			  October to September each year  (Inclusive)  Median ( number of weeks ) 
			 2004-05 9.0 
			 2005-06 10.9 
			 2006-07 10.9 
			 2007-08 8.9 
			 2008-09 9.1 
			  Notes: 1. Data is published at www.nomisweb.co.uk 2. Median, rather than arithmetic mean, is the preferred measure of average for sk ewed distributions such as duration of claim  Source:  DWP WPLS 100 per cent. data

Members: Correspondence

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she expects to provide a full response to the letter of 25 June 2009 from Mrs Kathleen Law.

Jim Knight: Mrs. Law wrote directly to the Minister of State for Pensions and the Ageing Society on 25 June 2009 concerning the scheme rules for the Local Government Pension Scheme. As this matter falls within the responsibility of the Department for Communities and Local Government, Mrs. Law's letter was forwarded to that Department on 6 October 2009 to address the issues raised. I apologise to the hon. Member and to Mrs. Law for the delay in doing so.

National Strategy for Mental Health and Employment

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she expects to publish the National Strategy for Mental Health and Employment; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 20 October 2009
	We recognise the particular employment challenges faced by people who have mental health conditions and the importance of promoting good mental health and well-being across the whole population from early years and throughout working lives. We have been working across government to develop the national mental health and employment strategy to address both of these issues. It is now nearing readiness, and will be published later this year.

New Deal Schemes: Birmingham

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath constituency have participated in a New Deal scheme in each year since 2004.

Jim Knight: The table shows the number of starters on New Deals in the Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath constituency since 2004. The information recorded in the following table shows the number of spells started with the New Deal schemes, rather then the number of individuals involved:
	
		
			  Year of starting  Total starters (spells)( 1) 
			 2004(2) 1,670 
			 2005 1,480 
			 2006 1,630 
			 2007 1,770 
			 2008 1,750 
			 2009(3) 790 
			 (1) Starters (spells) data are not available for New Deal 50 Plus or New Deal for Partners so Starters (individuals) data have been used instead for these schemes. This means that for these schemes only the most recent spell on that New Deal is recorded. (2) Data for New Deal for Partners is available from April 2004 (programme started in May 1999). (3) Data is available to May 2009.  Notes: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. The Westminster Parliamentary Constituency (post May 2005) is allocated using the ONS Postcode Directory and customer's postcode. The year of starting is the calendar year of starting the New Deal.  Source:  Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate, information available at:  http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/tabtool_nd.asp

New Deal Schemes: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people resident in Enfield North constituency found work through the New Deal in each year since 2001.

Jim Knight: The table shows the number of job starts by disabled people in the Enfield North constituency who have found work through the New Deal for Disabled People since 1998. Some individuals may have had more than one job start.
	
		
			   Job starts 
			 1998 (1)- 
			 1999 (1)- 
			 2000 (1)- 
			 2001 (1)- 
			 2002 10 
			 2003 10 
			 2004 20 
			 2005 20 
			 2006 30 
			 2007 40 
			 2008 20 
			 2009 (1)- 
			 (1 )Nil or negligible.   Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Westminster Parliamentary Constituency (post May 2005) is allocated using the ONS Postcode Directory and customer's postcode.  3. Year of entering job is the calendar year that the job was gained.  4. Latest data is for February 2009.   Source:  The Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate. The figures are available at http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp

Pensioners: Poverty

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of pensioners have been defined as living in absolute poverty in  (a) the North East and  (b) the UK in each year since 2005-06.

Angela Eagle: Estimates of poverty, published in the Households Below Average Income series, only allows a breakdown of the overall number of people in poverty at Government office region level. Therefore, information for the Jarrow constituency and South Tyneside region are not available.
	The Government use a basket of three key thresholds of income, after housing costs, to measure pensioner poverty. Absolute poverty is referred to as 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median income uprated in line with prices.
	Latest information for the north-east Government office region, is based on three year averages and is provided in Table 1 as follows:
	
		
			  Table 1. Number and percentage of pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median household income (uprated in line with prices), after housing costs, in the north-east Government office region, since 1997( 1) 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 1995-98 200,000 37 
			 1996-99 200,000 33 
			 1997-2000 100,000 30 
			 1998-01 100,000 26 
			 1999-02 100,000 20 
			 2000-03 100,000 14 
			 2001-04 0 10 
			 2002-05 0 8 
			 2003-06 0 7 
			 2004-07 0 6 
			 2005-08 0 7 
			 (1) Information is in three year averages.   Note:  FES figures are for the United Kingdom, FRS figures are for Great Britain up to 1997-98, and for the United Kingdom from 1998-99, with estimates for Northern Ireland imputed for the years 1998-99 through 2001-02. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. 
		
	
	Latest information for the UK is provided in Table 2 as follows:
	
		
			  Table 2. Number and percentage of pensioners falling below 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median household income (uprated in line with prices), after housing costs, in the UK since 1997 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 1997-98 3,000,000 31 
			 1998-99 2,900,000 29 
			 1999-2000 2,500,000 25 
			 2000-01 2,000,000 20 
			 2001-02 1,500,000 14 
			 2002-03 1,200,000 12 
			 2003-04 1,100,000 10 
			 2004-05 900,000 8 
			 2005-06 800,000 8 
			 2006-07 1,100,000 10 
			 2007-08 1,000,000 9 
			  Notes:  1. FES figures are for the United Kingdom, FRS figures are for Great Britain up to 1997-98, and for the United Kingdom from 1998-99, with estimates for Northern Ireland imputed for the years 1998-99 through 2001-02. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years.  2. Small changes in estimates from year to year, particularly at the bottom of the income distribution, may not be significant in view of data uncertainties.  3. Due to rounding, the estimates of change in percentages of pensioners below low-income thresholds may not equal the difference between the total percentage of pensioners below thresholds for any pair of years shown.

Pensions: Females

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will estimate the percentage of women retiring in (a) 2010-11,  (b) 2012-13 and  (c) 2014-15 who will be entitled to a full basic state pension; and if she will estimate for those who will not receive a full pension what their average percentage contribution record will have been in each such year; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The 2007 Pension Act reforms to basic state pension will mean that over 90 per cent. of women reaching state pension age from 2025 will qualify for a full basic state pension. In 2010-11 this proportion will rise to around 75 per cent. from around 45 per cent. today. Thereafter we expect the proportion to rise more gradually.
	Where available the information requested is given in the following table. An estimate of the average percentage contribution record for women not entitled to a full basic state pension reaching state pension age in the years requested is not available; information relating to the expected level of entitlement has been provided instead.
	
		
			  Proportion of women reaching state pension age in the given year by their estimated level of entitlement to basic state pension 
			  Percentage 
			  Level of basic state pension entitlement  2010-11  2012-13  2014-15 
			 100 Around 75 Around 80 Around 85 
			 61 to 99 Around 15 Around 10 Under 10 
			 60 and less Around 10 Under 10 Under 10 
			  Notes:  1. This table shows the proportion of people reaching SPA entitled to BSP at SPA, i.e. around 75 per cent. of females reaching SPA in 2010 are projected to be entitled to full BSP.  2. Women's entitlement is based on their own contributions and on their husband's contributions where the inheritance and substitution provisions apply for widows and divorced women.  3. Includes deferrers. Figures refer to percentage entitlement not to percentage of those in receipt of full BSP. Some people may be entitled but not be in receipt of a pension because they have chosen to defer their entitlement.  4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.   Source:  Projections from DWP Forecasting Division using the Government Actuary's Department's Retirement Pension Model; Great Britain only.

Proceeds of Crime: Victim Support

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that the proceeds of crime recovered by police forces are allocated to fund support services for victims of crime.

Alan Campbell: Earlier this month my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced details of local projects to be funded under the new £4million Community Cashback scheme which gave local communities a say on how recovered criminal assets are spent. 11 projects are being funded which are victim-related. In addition £11 million from confiscated proceeds was paid last year as compensation to victims.

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the application of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs); and what recent discussions he has had with  (a) local authorities and  (b) housing associations on the effect of the use of ASBOs on community cohesion.

Alan Campbell: A Home Office research study carried out in 2004 showed that the cost of obtaining an Anti-social behaviour Order (ASBO) had significantly reduced since 2002 when this was previously assessed. Local agencies using Anti-social behaviour Orders (ASBOs) find them cost effective. The cost of not taking action is much higher.
	Since ASBOs were introduced in 1998 there have been real changes in how people feel about anti-social behaviour: 17 per cent. of people felt that levels of ASB in their areas were high in 2008-09 compared to 21 per cent. in 2002-03. The tools and powers introduced by this Government over the last 11 years are working: the 2006 NAO report on anti-social behaviour found that 93 per cent. of people desisted from ASB after the third intervention.

Burglary: Crime Prevention

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have obtained his Department's free burglary prevention advice pack since its launch in April 2009; and how many people have redeemed the discount vouchers included in that pack.

Alan Campbell: Since the launch of the 'Secure Your Home' burglary prevention advice pack in April:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Sent directly to members of the public through the action line 10,304 
			 To police forces in England and Wales to distribute to victims of burglary, their neighbours and other at most risk 329,088 
			 Total 339,392 
		
	
	No data are available yet on how many discount vouchers have been redeemed. We are continuing to talk to the three DIY stores who provided the vouchers to obtain these figures.

Departmental Manpower

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff there were in his Department  (a) in 1997 and  (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: Information on the number of staff in the Home Department in 1997 has been published by Cabinet Office (Tables 1A-1D) and is available on-line at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/Assets/css97_tcm6-2540.pdf
	It should be noted that HM Prison Service is listed separately in this table but was part of the Home Office in 1997.
	The Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey statistics for June 2009 are published by ONS and are available on-line. This survey confirms that there are currently 24,640 civil servants working for the Home Office and its Agencies.
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/Table6AllDepts.xls
	Employment numbers over the period will have been affected by machinery of Government changes.

Direct Selling

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an assessment of the merits of developing a password identification system to protect vulnerable people from bogus doorstep callers.

Alan Campbell: All electricity, gas and water companies have a doorstep password scheme which enable people to set up their own passwords to verify the identity of doorstep callers. I would encourage people to sign up to such schemes which can offer access to other services for vulnerable customers on the supplier's Priority Service Register.

Drug Interventions Programme

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of people arrested and tested under the Drug Interventions Programme were positive for  (a) heroin and  (b) crack cocaine in each police force area in each year since 2003.

Alan Johnson: The drug testing of offenders for specified Class A drugs (heroin and cocaine/crack) in police custody came into operation from 2003 across 30 Basic Command Units (BCUs) as part of the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP). Since that time the programme has expanded in a phased approach to 66 BCUs in 2004 and some 107 BCUs in 2005. DIP currently conducts drug testing in 109 BCUs across England and Wales.
	Only offenders arrested or charged with a trigger offence-largely acquisitive crime related offences-are required to provide a sample to be tested for specified Class A drugs.
	Tables 1, 2 and 3 show the number of positive tests under the Drug Interventions Programme for heroin only, cocaine only, and heroin and cocaine combined, for each financial year since data was available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Heroin only 
			  Force  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Avon and Somerset 223 213 408 319 334 
			 Bedfordshire 179 223 328 90 165 
			 Cambridgeshire 164 157 277 196 244 
			 City of London - - 124 84 102 
			 Cleveland 596 516 1,073 988 1,031 
			 Devon and Cornwall 222 160 126 79 55 
			 Greater Manchester 1,299 1,834 2,436 1,762 1,947 
			 Gwent - 39 111 87 180 
			 Humberside 510 545 871 663 878 
			 Lancashire 244 278 237 217 207 
			 Leicestershire 212 382 641 529 808 
			 Merseyside 480 361 521 705 1,175 
			 Metropolitan police 1,393 1,932 2,935 2,326 2,763 
			 North Wales 220 149 122 124 145 
			 Northamptonshire - 134 186 167 206 
			 Northumbria 591 750 1,426 1,108 1,106 
			 Nottinghamshire 558 953 1,617 989 852 
			 South Wales 1 499 557 532 678 
			 South Yorkshire 823 1,446 1,710 1,392 1,427 
			 Staffordshire 171 127 191 183 58 
			 Thames Valley 232 170 299 356 545 
			 West Midlands 898 2,157 3,063 2,571 2,746 
			 West Yorkshire 817 1,229 2,184 1,854 1,890 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Cocaine only (both powder cocaine and crack cocaine) 
			  Force  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Avon and Somerset 310 327 610 756 920 
			 Bedfordshire 156 333 667 429 371 
			 Cambridgeshire 58 69 114 190 223 
			 City of London - - 228 274 206 
			 Cleveland 271 274 696 1,011 994 
			 Devon and Cornwall 19 37 26 47 41 
			 Greater Manchester 1,051 1,872 2,816 3,840 3,080 
			 Gwent - 58 64 90 86 
			 Humberside 223 188 431 583 565 
			 Lancashire 46 63 47 76 111 
			 Leicestershire 127 143 372 408 569 
			 Merseyside 584 516 1,401 2,781 3,396 
			 Metropolitan police 3,327 3,700 8,469 10,084 9,450 
			 North Wales 27 33 34 71 64 
			 Northamptonshire - 123 298 375 342 
			 Northumbria 210 391 1,091 1,140 1,208 
			 Nottinghamshire 355 647 1,350 1,377 1,215 
			 South Wales - 181 166 326 351 
			 South Yorkshire 381 656 906 1,425 1,298 
			 Staffordshire 48 39 51 66 25 
			 Thames Valley 292 359 658 1,012 914 
			 West Midlands 726 1,205 3,012 4,921 4,592 
			 West Yorkshire 358 620 1,909 3,165 3,116 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Both heroin and cocaine (both powder cocaine and crack cocaine) 
			  Force  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Avon and Somerset 609 697 1,335 1,402 1,194 
			 Bedfordshire 276 421 960 527 347 
			 Cambridgeshire 67 126 179 215 272 
			 City of London - - 361 350 206 
			 Cleveland 391 457 1,048 1,166 880 
			 Devon and Cornwall 28 46 25 33 15 
			 Greater Manchester 1,480 2,612 3,392 3,384 2,718 
			 Gwent - 64 129 157 102 
			 Humberside 282 316 712 850 599 
			 Lancashire 126 123 114 156 86 
			 Leicestershire 140 242 463 479 537 
			 Merseyside 1,483 1,213 2,114 2,223 2,265 
			 Metropolitan police 3,528 4,844 8,801 8,733 7,372 
			 North Wales 77 68 66 90 58 
			 Northamptonshire - 136 254 206 169 
			 Northumbria 142 333 553 548 537 
			 Nottinghamshire 566 1,374 2,342 1,720 1,188 
			 South Wales - 318 235 383 339 
			 South Yorkshire 833 1,455 2,182 1,954 1,499 
			 Staffordshire 102 92 89 94 39 
			 Thames Valley 528 518 919 1,152 973 
			 West Midlands 1,235 2,816 5,268 5,677 4,647 
			 West Yorkshire 747 1,298 3,272 3,637 2,959 
		
	
	Tables 4, 5 and 6 show the proportion of tests under DIP which were positive for heroin only, cocaine only, and heroin and cocaine combined, for each financial year since data was available.
	
		
			  Table 4: Heroin only 
			  Percentage 
			  Force  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Avon and Somerset 11 10 8 6 6 
			 Bedfordshire 16 12 7 4 7 
			 Cambridgeshire 20 14 13 10 11 
			 City of London - - 7 5 6 
			 Cleveland 23 21 16 13 13 
			 Devon and Cornwall 32 23 22 13 17 
			 Greater Manchester 13 11 10 7 8 
			 Gwent - 11 17 13 18 
			 Humberside 17 20 15 11 13 
			 Lancashire 26 27 23 20 18 
			 Leicestershire 16 17 13 12 14 
			 Merseyside 11 9 6 6 7 
			 Metropolitan police 8 9 5 4 5 
			 North Wales 31 28 24 16 21 
			 Northamptonshire - 14 8 6 8 
			 Northumbria 21 18 14 12 10 
			 Nottinghamshire 18 14 11 9 8 
			 South Wales 100 21 24 18 19 
			 South Yorkshire 20 18 14 12 11 
			 Staffordshire 24 25 26 22 17 
			 Thames Valley 11 8 6 6 7 
			 West Midlands 14 17 10 7 8 
			 West Yorkshire 18 17 10 7 7 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 5: Cocaine only (both powder cocaine and crack cocaine) 
			  Percentage 
			  Force  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Avon and Somerset 15 16 12 15 17 
			 Bedfordshire 14 18 14 17 15 
			 Cambridgeshire 7 6 5 10 10 
			 City of London - - 13 15 12 
			 Cleveland 10 11 11 14 13 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3 5 5 8 13 
			 Greater Manchester 11 11 12 16 13 
			 Gwent - 16 10 13 9 
			 Humberside 7 7 7 10 8 
			 Lancashire 5 6 5 7 10 
			 Leicestershire 10 6 8 9 10 
			 Merseyside 13 13 17 23 21 
			 Metropolitan police 20 17 16 19 18 
			 North Wales 4 6 7 9 9 
			 Northamptonshire - 13 12 14 13 
			 Northumbria 8 9 11 12 11 
			 Nottinghamshire 11t 9 9 13 12 
			 South Wales 0 8 7 11 10 
			 South Yorkshire 9 8 8 12 10 
			 Staffordshire 7 8 7 8 7 
			 Thames Valley 14 17 14 16 12 
			 West Midlands 11 9 10 14 13 
			 West Yorkshire 8 9 9 13 12 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 6: Both heroin and cocaine (both powder cocaine and crack cocaine) 
			  Percentage 
			  Force  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Avon and Somerset 30 33 26 28 22 
			 Bedfordshire 24 23 21 21 14 
			 Cambridgeshire 8 11 8 11 12 
			 City of London - - 20 19 12 
			 Cleveland 15 19 16 16 11 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4 7 4 5 5 
			 Greater Manchester 15 16 14 14 11 
			 Gwent - 18 20 23 10 
			 Humberside 9 12 12 14 9 
			 Lancashire 14 12 11 14 8 
			 Leicestershire 11 11 10 11 9 
			 Merseyside 33 31 25 18 14 
			 Metropolitan police 21 23 16 16 14 
			 North Wales 11 13 13 11 8 
			 Northamptonshire - 14 10 8 6 
			 Northumbria 5 8 5 6 5 
			 Nottinghamshire 18 20 16 16 11 
			 South Wales 0 13 10 13 9 
			 South Yorkshire 20 18 18 16 12 
			 Staffordshire 14 18 12 12 11 
			 Thames Valley 26 24 19 18 13 
			 West Midlands 19 22 17 16 13 
			 West Yorkshire 17 18 15 15 11 
		
	
	The question asks for numbers testing positive for crack cocaine. It is not possible to provide data on positive tests for crack cocaine only because the drug test conducted as part of DIP does not distinguish between powder cocaine and crack cocaine.
	Between 2003 and 2005 the programme operated drug testing at the point of charge. From 2005 to the present time the programme has operated drug testing at the point of arrest, which has led to an increase in the number of individuals required to be tested.

National Identity Service Public Panels

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of  (a) establishing and  (b) running the National Identity Service Public Panels;
	(2)  how much was spent on  (a) job advertisements and  (b) publicity for the recruitment campaign to the national identity service public panels;
	(3)  how many applications for membership of the national identity service public panels have been received;
	(4)  what procedures will be used to select members of the national identity service public panels.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 20 October 2009
	We are introducing a public panel, made up of people from different regions, to ensure that the views of the public are properly reflected in the way the National Identity Service (NIS) is introduced, and to help us develop an identity rights charter.
	Members are unpaid volunteers, who may be reimbursed for reasonable out of pocket expenses.
	The public panel will meet in six groups across the UK. The first two groups for the north and south of England have just been set up, following a campaign seeking people to join the panel.
	For these two groups we received 113 applications. Applicants were asked their background: 12 categories were used such as employed, unemployed, in training, education, carer, and applicants were also asked about their knowledge or views of the NIS (making clear no view or knowledge was necessary for the role). The background categories were then used to randomly select members to proceed to an informal discussion with Identity and Passport Service (IPS) officials. Candidates for Chair had a short interview with an IPS official and an independent assessor.
	Information for applicants was approved by Plain English and is available in Braille, large print format, Easyread format, and audio. This information will be used for all six groups and cost £6,600. Advertisement costs in local and regional newspapers for the north and south groups cost £8,800.
	The estimated cost of information and publicity to set up all six regional groups is £60,000. Administrative support for the panel will be provided by IPS; the estimated cost of running the public panel in the current financial year is £16,000, which allows for reimbursement of expenses to panel members.

Official Residences

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 3 June 2009,  Official Report, column 561W, on official residences, what the present proposed sale price of the former Ministerial residence in South Eaton Place is; and whether there have been any changes to the proposed sale price since the property was first placed on the market.

Phil Woolas: The guide price for this property is currently £4 million and has not changed.

Official Residences

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 3 June 2009,  Official Report, column 561W, on official residences, whether the advice of the selling agent on the preparation of a home condition report for the property in South Eaton Place was obtained in writing.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 160W. A copy of the disposal report for the property has previously been placed in the Library.

Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the cost to his Department of  (a) implementing and  (b) managing its pre-entry screening programme for tuberculosis has been since the programme's inception;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average cost to each applicant of undertaking the pre-entry screening programme for tuberculosis;
	(3)  whether he plans to extend the pre-screening programme for tuberculosis to migrants from more countries;
	(4)  what evaluation of the effectiveness of his Department's pre-entry screening programme for tuberculosis has been undertaken.

Phil Woolas: The pre-entry TB screening pilot programme administered on behalf of the UK Border Agency by the International Organisation for Migration covers 15 countries, and complements the system of on-entry checks by port medical inspectors at major UK ports. The Home Office, with a contribution from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, met the start-up costs of $1,803,580 US. The scheme is now self-financing, applicants paying a fee of between $50 and $77 US (up to £50). The Department of Health and Health Protection Agency Preliminary have undertaken preliminary assessments, and a final evaluation is now under way. Following this review decisions will be taken on the future of the programme.

Children: Poverty

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate his Department has made of the number of children in rural areas living in poverty in each year since 1997.

Helen Goodman: I have been asked to reply
	:
	Estimates of the number of children in rural areas living in poverty are derived from the Family Resources Survey produced by the Department for Work and Pensions. The survey is available on the Department's website at
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/frs/2007_08/frs_2007_08_report.pdf
	A copy is also in the Library.
	Data on rurality are only available on the Family Resources Survey since 2004/05, so no information is available prior to 2004/05.
	The information that is available is given in the tables.
	Due to different definitions of rurality in Scotland compared to England and Wales, and the fact that no information is collected on the Family Resources Survey covering rurality in Northern Ireland, it has not been possible to present figures for the United Kingdom as a whole. This also means that the figures in table 4 are not comparable with figures presented in the other tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of children in rural areas in England in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, 2004/05 to 2007/08, before and after housing costs 
			  Million 
			  Period  Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 2004/05 0.3 0.4 
			 2005/06 0.3 0.4 
			 2006/07 0.3 0.4 
			 2007/08 0.3 0.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of children in rural areas in Wales in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, 2004/05 to 2006/07 and 2005/06 to 2007/08, before and after housing costs 
			  Million 
			  Period  Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 2004/05 to 2006/07 - 0.1 
			 2005/06 to 2007/08 0.1 0.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Number of children in rural areas in England and Wales in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, 2004/05 to 2007/08, before and after housing costs 
			  Million 
			  Period  Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 2004/05 0.3 0.4 
			 2005/06 0.3 0.5 
			 2006/07 0.4 0.5 
			 2007/08 0.3 0.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Number of children in rural areas in Scotland in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, 2004/05 to 2006/07 and 2005/06 to 2007/08, before and after housing costs 
			  Million 
			  Period  Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 2004/05 to 2006/07 - - 
			 2005/06 to 2007/08 - - 
			  Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income, sourced from the Family Resources Survey. 2. Small changes should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for Households Below Average Income figures are single financial years. For Wales and Scotland, three years of data have had to be combined due to small sample size. 4. A '-' in the table indicates that the number of children in low income households is less than 50,000 in the period. 5. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income' (HBAI) series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 6. For the Households Below Average Income series, incomes have been equivalised using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) equivalisation factors. 7. Number of children in low income have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand.

Departmental Publications

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost of production of his Department's publication Schools of the Future: Inspirational design for kitchen and dining spaces was; and how much was spent on  (a) research,  (b) preparation and  (c) distribution of the publication.

Vernon Coaker: The cost of producing Inspirational Design for Kitchen and Dining Spaces was around £108,000, broken down as follows:
	Research, writing and graphics-£91,000
	Preparation (printing, editing and professional photography)-£15,000
	Distribution (including to every local authority)-approx £2,000
	The publication, which was well received by the School Food Trust, has proved extremely valuable to local authorities, schools and designers particularly those involved in Building Schools for the Future and the Primary Capital Programme.

GCE A-Level

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of A levels in  (a) chemistry,  (b) physics,  (c) mathematics and  (d) modern languages were awarded to pupils at (i) grammar schools, (ii) comprehensive schools, (iii) sixth form colleges and (iv) independent schools in the 2008-09 academic year.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 20 October 2009
	 The information required is given as follows and relates to passes at grades A-E:
	
		
			  Contribution of total GCE A level passes by institution type in 2008/09 
			  Percentage 
			   Comprehensive  Selective  Modern  Other maintained  All maintained  Independent  Sixth Form Colleges  Other FE Colleges  AII FE colleges  All schools and colleges (number) 
			 Chemistry 39.4 14.6 0.6 0.3 54.8 21.8 17.1 6.2 23.4 36,278 
			 Physics 41.5 14.0 0.5 0.2 56.3 23.0 14.5 6.2 20.8 24,844 
			 Mathematics 40.3 13.1 0.7 0.3 54.3 21.7 17.0 7.0 24.0 63,439 
			 French 37.4 12.8 0.6 0.3 51.2 29.8 14.1 4.9 18.9 12,152 
			 German 39.2 13.7 0.7 0.1 53.7 27.4 14.3 4.7 19.0 5,086 
			 Spanish 30.2 12.0 0.4 0.4 42.9 34.0 16.8 6.3 23.1 6,056 
			 Other Modern Languages 28.0 3.8 0.7 1.2 33.6 48.9 9.8 7.7 17.4 5,973 
			  Notes: 1. Figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2008).  2. 'Other modern languages' include 'Arabic', 'Bengali', 'Chinese', 'Dutch', 'Gujarati', 'Italian', 'Japanese', 'Panjabi', 'Persian', 'Polish', 'Portuguese', 'Russian', 'Turkish' and 'Urdu'.  Source:  Achievement and Attainment Tables data (provisional).

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils eligible for free school meals did not sit GCSE examinations in five or more subjects in 2008.

Vernon Coaker: Of those pupils eligible to receive free school meals in maintained schools in England, 8,704 pupils were not entered for GCSE examinations in five or more subjects in 2008.
	The figure includes all GCSE and equivalent qualifications.
	This figure has been derived from the National Pupil Database. Data on pupils' eligibility for free school meals is collected in the Pupil-Level Annual School Census which only takes place in maintained schools.

Pupils: Absenteeism

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many maintained schools in which over  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15 and  (d) 20 per cent. of pupils were persistent absentees had less than 30 per cent. of pupils gain five GCSEs including English and mathematics at grades A* to C in each year since 2005.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage of persistent absence( 1)  in school 
			Percentage 
			5  10  15  20 
			 2007  Maintained( 2)  schools 2,587 893 329 183 
			  with fewer than 29.5 per cent. achieving five or more GCSEs at A*-C, or the equivalent, including English and maths 1,194 696 313 181 
			   
			 2008  Maintained( 2)  schools 2,305 634 263 143 
			  with fewer than 29.5 per cent. achieving five or more GCSEs at A*-C, or the equivalent, including English and maths 1,011 519 254 142 
			 (1) Persistent absence is defined as missing more than 63 sessions. (2) Including city technology colleges, academies and maintained special schools-all schools in the table have at least one pupil at the end of Key Stage 4.  Notes: 1. Special schools are included in the figures. 2. Data matching persistent absence to school attainment is only available from 2007.

Schools: Asbestos

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools have been found to contain hazardous asbestos in the last 12 months; in how many of those schools all asbestos has been removed; at what cost; and what assessment has been made of the health of  (a) teachers and  (b) pupils attending schools where asbestos has been found.

Vernon Coaker: During any major refurbishment project, the Department expects those responsible, to remove hazardous asbestos and asbestos likely to be disturbed. Outside major projects, periodic asbestos surveys identify Asbestos Containing Materials that are likely to deteriorate and we expect them to be removed or encapsulated.
	There is no requirement for routine reports of the condition of asbestos containing materials; for each public building there is an individual with specific statutory duties related to asbestos but routine reporting is not one of those duties. So, data is not available on the number of schools found to contain hazardous asbestos in the last 12 months.
	Earlier this year, the Prime Minister gave a commitment to find out more about local authority management of asbestos.
	In September 2008 DCSF and HSE sought to determine, by questionnaire, how asbestos is being managed in system-built schools.
	Initial evaluation of the responses is complete. It has highlighted the need for further investigation and follow-up action. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officials will discuss with the Department in November how to take this forward.

Schools: Standards

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of  (a) schools and  (b) Catholic schools Ofsted judged to be outstanding or good in the latest period for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 20 October 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	The latest figures published by Ofsted about the inspection outcomes of maintained schools refer to inspections carried out in the autumn and spring terms of 2008/09. During that period, 19% of all schools inspected were judged to be outstanding and 50% were judged to be good in terms of their overall effectiveness. During the same period, 23% of Roman Catholic schools inspected were judged to be outstanding and 56% were judged to be good. Table A summarises the outcomes for all schools inspected during this period by phase of education, and Table B summarises the outcomes for Roman Catholic schools.
	Figures covering all inspections which took place during the full academic year 2008/09 will be published in November 2009 alongside the Annual Report.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and placed in the library of both Houses.
	
		
			  Table A: overall effectiveness in schools inspected in the autumn and spring terms of academic year 2008/09 
			Overall effectiveness: percentage of schools inspected 
			  Phase of education  Number of inspections  Outstanding  Good  Satisfactory  Inadequate 
			 Nursery 87 59 40 1 0 
			 Primary 3,562 16 52 29 3 
			 Secondary 762 23 41 29 7 
			 Special 230 40 45 12 3 
			 Pupil referral unit 125 19 53 22 6 
			 Total - 19 50 28 4 
			  Notes:  1. Percentages are rounded and do not always add exactly to 100. 2. Figures include one special school which was inspected twice during this period and found to be inadequate on both occasions. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  B : overall effectiveness in  Roman Catholic  schools inspected in the autumn and spring terms of academic year 2008/09 
			Overall effectiveness: percentage of schools inspected 
			  Phase of education  Number of inspections  Outstanding  Good  Satisfactory  Inadequate 
			 Primary 389 21 58 20 2 
			 Secondary 85 31 48 16 5 
			 Special 1 100 0 0 0 
			 Total - 23 56 19 2 
			  Notes:  1. Percentages are rounded and do not always add exactly to 100. 2. Roman Catholic schools excludes those of mixed denomination..

Vocational Guidance: Finance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding has been provided to each local authority to provide careers services in accordance with sections 68 and 69 of the Education and Skills Act 2008.

Iain Wright: The Education and Skills Act 2008 transfers to local authorities the statutory responsibility for the delivery of Connexions services, including assessments for young people with learning difficulties. Sections 68 and 69 of the Act require local authorities to provide services, as directed by the Secretary of State, to encourage, enable or assist the effective participation of young people in education or training.
	Responsibility and funding for Connexions services, including information, advice and guidance and careers services, transferred to local authorities on 1 April 2008. The funding is paid via the area based grant arrangements and is not ring fenced. We do not collect information on what precisely the Connexions funding is spent on.
	Connexions grant funding is allocated using a national funding formula which is based on the 13-19 population, educational attainment, NEET figures and deprivation indicators. The funding formula is intended to share out the national Connexions budget between the 152 local authorities in a way that is fair, objective and transparent, so that they can deliver a high quality service to all young people. It is intended that the formula should broadly reflect the needs of an area and that it is then for local authorities to decide how best to use their funding to deliver Connexions services locally.
	We only have information on the funding provided for the provision of Connexions services as a whole which includes the provision of careers services. Some local authorities reflecting the needs of their area, may commission additional services from a number of other agencies. The amount of funding allocated to each local authority for the provision of Connexions services since 2008 is as follows:
	
		
			  Connexions grant allocations 2008 to 2011 
			  Local a uthority  2008 - 09  200 - 10  2010 - 11 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,135,835 2,240,946 2,307,413 
			 Barnet 2,859,769 2,714,745 2,620,723 
			 Barnsley 2,205,107 2,313,628 2,543,299 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,403,928 1,370,345 1,363,043 
			 Bedfordshire(1) 3,505,688 - - 
			 Bedford Borough - 1,465,059 1,462,201 
			 Central Bedfordshire - 1,965,163 1,976,288 
			 Bexley 2,258,109 2,224,658 2,241,851 
			 Birmingham 11,598,496 11,054,022 11,041,218 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1,897,017 1,944,424 1,942,646 
			 Blackpool 1,847,217 1,837,938 1,827,692 
			 Bolton 2,951,714 3,096,977 3,126,891 
			 Bournemouth 1,322,610 1,387,700 1,417,809 
			 Bracknell Forest 1,248,546 1,185,230 1,065,998 
			 Bradford 4,999,312 5,231,922 5,261,420 
			 Brent 2,601,070 2,483,963 2,469,858 
			 Brighton and Hove 2,180,983 2,189,813 2,167,918 
			 Bristol 3,576,383 3,484,002 3,447,371 
			 Bromley 2,499,349 2,403,908 2,408,810 
			 Buckinghamshire 3,784,634 3,592,708 3,455,960 
			 Bury 1,656,126 1,737,629 1,887,805 
			 Calderdale 2,073,434 2,046,741 2,057,580 
			 Cambridgeshire 4,536,860 4,306,787 4,066,514 
			 Camden 1,925,970 2,020,753 2,079,846 
			 Cheshire(1) 5,350,028 - - 
			 Cheshire East - 2,490,744 2,504,255 
			 Cheshire West and Chester - 2,738,198 2,739,897 
			 City of London 217,476 228,178 250,829 
			 Cornwall 3,965,389 4,123,537 4,120,511 
			 Coventry 3,342,950 3,173,422 3,158,928 
			 Croydon 3,205,064 3,209,614 3,211,589 
			 Cumbria 4,442,949 4,217,638 4,093,511 
			 Darlington 995,950 1,044,964 1,148,696 
			 Derby (City) 2,364,299 2,453,271 2,458,612 
			 Derbyshire 6,058,264 5,906,203 5,955,901 
			 Devon 5,387,090 5,220,313 5,227,787 
			 Doncaster 3,134,965 3,289,247 3,347,957 
			 Dorset 2,822,958 2,961,884 3,020,302 
			 Dudley 3,031,490 3,029,173 3,023,431 
			 Durham 4,956,762 4,999,034 5,003,606 
			 Ealing 2,514,411 2,573,209 2,588,967 
			 East Riding of Yorks 2,395,442 2,513,329 2,539,149 
			 East Sussex 3,996,083 4,127,521 4,133,868 
			 Enfield 3,048,524 2,942,302 2,946,685 
			 Essex 10,837,768 10,731,707 10,788,610 
			 Gateshead 1,910,170 2,004,175 2,118,030 
			 Gloucestershire 4,846,892 4,601,097 4,288,908 
			 Greenwich 2,868,202 3,009,355 3,168,221 
			 Hackney 2,609,071 2,737,472 2,888,913 
			 Halton 1,603,374 1,682,281 1,718,540 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,475,346 1,547,953 1,592,527 
			 Hampshire 9,515,254 9,399,152 9,393,133 
			 Haringey 2,476,065 2,593,898 2,588,100 
			 Harrow 1,879,255 1,874,784 1,846,840 
			 Hartlepool 1,113,733 1,168,543 1,284,543 
			 Havering 2,255,523 2,141,141 2,087,035 
			 Herefordshire 1,548,216 1,469,703 1,394,246 
			 Hertfordshire 8,576,130 8,141,218 8,184,407 
			 Hillingdon 2,863,097 2,717,904 2,588,297 
			 Hounslow 2,295,067 2,289,625 2,275,528 
			 Hull 3,220,085 3,376,466 3,363,553 
			 Isle of Wight 1,304,907 1,332,546 1,332,634 
			 Isles of Scilly 25,000 25,000 25,000 
			 Islington 2,092,847 2,195,843 2,413,822 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,793,254 1,702,315 1,531,065 
			 Kent 11,537,262 11,796,670 11,836,047 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 1,187,361 1,146,488 1,127,058 
			 Kirklees 3,752,250 3,936,910 3,960,221 
			 Knowsley 1,996,839 2,095,110 2,303,089 
			 Lambeth 2,439,164 2,527,658 2,540,147 
			 Lancashire 9,332,495 9,692,878 9,695,711 
			 Leeds 6,985,015 6,630,791 6,529,176 
			 Leicester (City) 4,361,000 4,139,845 3,723,384 
			 Leicestershire 4,231,167 4,439,395 4,471,790 
			 Lewisham 2,859,414 2,786,385 2,787,305 
			 Lincolnshire 5,542,404 5,261,338 5,264,350 
			 Liverpool 5,619,996 5,366,083 5,333,680 
			 Luton 2,034,424 2,134,545 2,153,194 
			 Manchester 5,480,855 5,202,910 5,121,423 
			 Medway 2,333,652 2,448,498 2,550,283 
			 Merton 1,628,829 1,546,228 1,473,135 
			 Middlesbrough 1,883,863 1,976,574 2,133,493 
			 Milton Keynes 2,326,563 2,240,110 2,246,998 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 3,041,855 3,000,199 2,973,710 
			 Newham 3,395,303 3,471,609 3,472,979 
			 Norfolk 6,969,810 6,616,357 6,389,342 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1,845,876 1,936,718 2,070,292 
			 North Lincolnshire 1,558,786 1,635,499 1,721,465 
			 North Somerset 1,466,477 1,538,647 1,558,615 
			 North Tyneside 1,881,708 1,974,312 1,986,382 
			 North Yorkshire 4,474,612 4,247,696 4,216,686 
			 Northamptonshire 6,173,383 5,860,319 5,648,861 
			 Northumberland 3,190,975 3,029,154 2,813,002 
			 Nottingham (City) 3,319,723 3,162,497 3,128,087 
			 Nottinghamshire 6,639,216 6,302,528 6,257,359 
			 Oldham 2,486,158 2,608,510 2,685,121 
			 Oxfordshire 4,913,800 4,669,339 4,657,858 
			 Peterborough 1,788,971 1,877,012 1,962,997 
			 Plymouth 2,353,042 2,468,127 2,449,832 
			 Poole 1,183,921 1,189,791 1,173,789 
			 Portsmouth 1,845,179 1,928,417 1,920,840 
			 Reading 1,216,312 1,276,171 1,321,260 
			 Redbridge 2,181,020 2,167,227 2,172,357 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,712,832 1,797,126 1,825,497 
			 Richmond Upon Thames 1,323,865 1,256,730 1,163,227 
			 Rochdale 2,264,862 2,376,323 2,506,746 
			 Rotherham 2,749,965 2,885,300 3,101,497 
			 Rutland 269,331 282,585 310,637 
			 Salford 2,504,047 2,581,857 2,576,179 
			 Sandwell 3,396,071 3,558,512 3,577,380 
			 Sefton 2,883,000 2,804,102 2,797,167 
			 Sheffield 4,801,931 4,955,465 4,957,247 
			 Shropshire 2,328,714 2,216,296 2,202,159 
			 Slough 1,206,360 1,265,729 1,285,588 
			 Solihull 2,127,535 2,089,791 2,093,279 
			 Somerset 4,302,492 4,084,304 3,960,444 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,127,551 2,019,659 2,011,391 
			 South Tyneside 1,820,008 1,873,976 1,875,510 
			 Southampton 2,010,141 2,109,067 2,185,394 
			 Southend on Sea 1,500,644 1,574,496 1,636,062 
			 Southwark 3,179,484 3,161,844 3,178,853 
			 St Helens 2,079,205 2,090,147 2,089,913 
			 Staffordshire 6,737,879 6,744,172 6,737,109 
			 Stockport 2,390,783 2,508,441 2,520,061 
			 Stockton on Tees 1,932,205 2,027,295 2,065,879 
			 Stoke on Trent 2,761,049 2,896,929 3,080,460 
			 Suffolk 5,776,012 5,508,235 5,531,601 
			 Sunderland 3,340,512 3,333,282 3,336,564 
			 Surrey 8,628,887 8,191,299 7,367,269 
			 Sutton 1,602,425 1,654,444 1,660,234 
			 Swindon 1,844,348 1,846,214 1,847,666 
			 Tameside 2,375,322 2,492,219 2,499,106 
			 Telford and Wrekin 1,773,089 1,798,599 1,803,889 
			 Thurrock 1,453,580 1,525,116 1,657,326 
			 Torbay 1,148,857 1,205,396 1,300,057 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,716,974 2,850,684 3,133,669 
			 Trafford 1,819,698 1,886,908 1,892,281 
			 Wakefield 3,277,829 3,386,663 3,399,169 
			 Walsall 2,919,640 3,061,227 3,068,488 
			 Waltham Forest 2,434,491 2,457,014 2,459,481 
			 Wandsworth 2,166,382 2,168,526 2,153,211 
			 Warrington 1,720,152 1,754,915 1,767,568 
			 Warwickshire 4,220,230 4,105,983 4,098,631 
			 West Berkshire 1,214,237 1,273,993 1,390,903 
			 West Sussex 5,704,250 5,445,474 5,477,332 
			 Westminster 2,238,826 2,125,291 1,911,490 
			 Wigan 3,120,097 3,273,647 3,298,656 
			 Wiltshire 3,423,148 3,342,973 3,371,102 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 1,193,378 1,166,154 1,159,487 
			 Wirral 3,689,000 3,501,924 3,299,236 
			 Wokingham 1,236,931 1,174,204 1,136,637 
			 Wolverhampton 2,619,554 2,748,470 2,890,404 
			 Worcestershire 4,406,206 4,263,443 4,268,515 
			 York 1,391,800 1,418,001 1,396,446 
			 Total England 468,732,000 466,732,000 466,732,000 
			 (1) From 1 April 2009 four new local authorities were created: Bedfordshire LA split into Bedford borough and Central Bedfordshire and Cheshire LA split into Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester.

Youth of Today Programme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which organisations were involved in the consultation for his Department's Youth of Today programme for; how long the consultation programme was open; how much the consultation cost; if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of all meetings where the consultation was discussed; when the programme will be reviewed; by whom; and at what projected cost.

Vernon Coaker: A feasibility study for a possible National Institute for Youth Leadership commenced in December 2007 and was completed in April 2008. A list of organisations that participated is at Annex A. A roundtable for stakeholders, chaired by Beverley Hughes MP took place in July 2008 with the following organisations: British Youth Council; the Citizenship Foundation Changemakers; Commission for Youth Social Enterprise; Council on Social Action; the Duke of Edinburgh Awards; National Youth Agency; the Prince's Trust; UK Youth Parliament; V; Young Advisors and the Young Foundation. The cost of the consultation process was £24,728.
	A copy of the minutes of feasibility discussions and the ministerial roundtable will be placed in the Library.
	The programme will be externally evaluated over the remainder of the contract period till March 2011. The Department will shortly be signing a contract with the approved evaluators with a projected cost of £115,000.
	 Annex A
	Children
	Brookfield School
	British Youth Council
	Centre for Excellence in Leadership
	Changemakers
	Children of Addictive Parents
	Citizenship Foundation
	Clubs for Young People
	Commission for Youth Social Entrepreneurship
	Contented Ltd.
	ContinYou
	CRAC
	Crime Concern
	CSV
	Department for Children, Schools and Families
	Department for Communities and Local Government
	Development Education Association
	The Diana Award
	Government Office North East
	Groundwork
	Growth Matters
	The Grubb Institute
	Innovation Exchange
	London and Quadrant Neighbourhood Investment Teams
	London Youth
	National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
	The National Trust
	National Youth Agency
	National Youth Theatre
	Oxfam
	Participation Works
	People and Planet
	The Prince's Trust
	Raleigh International
	RSPB
	Schools Councils UK
	Skills Force Development and Training
	UK Youth
	UK Youth Parliament
	University of Bristol
	Volunteering England
	The Wildlife Trust
	Young Achievers Trust
	Young Advisors
	Young Enterprise
	YouthBank UK
	YouthNet